General practitioners' attitudes and beliefs on antenatal testing for HIV: postal questionnaire survey

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Abstract
The London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham have a population of 737 000, which is served by 427 general practitioners. Data from the unlinked anonymous monitoring programme coordinated by the Public Health Laboratory Service's communicable disease surveillance centre show that in 1998 the prevalence of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in this health authority had risen to 1 in 155. Transmission from mother to child can be reduced from about 30% to less than 5% through use of antiretroviral therapy, elective caesarean section, and avoiding breast feeding; avoiding breast feeding alone reduces transmission by half.1 HIV antenatal testing should be recommended routinely in the United Kingdom.2 Screening is cost effective and acceptable to women. 3 4 Women act on a positive test result and take measures to reduce transmission.5 Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham health authority promotes testing for HIV infection by midwives as part of routine …