HIV-screening onder zwangere vrouwen in de regio Amsterdam in 2002

- In 2001, the Municipal Health Service started offering HIV tests to all pregnant women in and around Amsterdam. All midwives and all hospitals but one participated in this HIV screening. In 2002, of the 10,752 pregnant women offered HIV testing 13.6 refused. HIV antibodies were detected in 24 women (0.26). The HIV prevalence was doubled compared to the prevalence in 1990-1991, but the number of newly HIV-infected pregnant women remained stable (0.1). The high number of refusals, as a result of which many HIV-infected women might be missed, is alarming. For this reason, in January 2003, the Municipal Health Service started HIV testing by the opting-out approach. Under the opting-out approach, women are notified that an HIV test will be included in the standard test battery, together with tests for hepatitis B and syphilis, unless she explicitly refuses. It is expected that the opting-out approach for HIV screening of pregnant women will be implemented nationwide in 2003.