Attitudes Toward Health-Care, HIV Infection, and Perinatal Transmission Interventions in a Cohort of Inner-City, Pregnant Women

Neil S. Silverman; Donna M. Rohner; Barbara J. Turner

doi:10.1055/s-2007-994157

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 1997; 14(6): 341-346
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994157

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Attitudes Toward Health-Care, HIV Infection, and Perinatal Transmission Interventions in a Cohort of Inner-City, Pregnant Women

Neil S. Silverman¹ , Donna M. Rohner² , Barbara J. Turner² ^, ³

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
²Center for Research in Medical Education and Health Care, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
³Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The objective of this article is to explore attitudes of an inner-city, pregnant cohort about general and HIV-related prenatal care. Responses to an interview at initial prenatal care enrollment were compared using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Of 75 women, drug users (51%) were more likely to say that they would defer initiating prenatal care (P = 0.03) and to minimize the risk of drug or alcohol use to the fetus (P=0.04). Most (85%) viewed pregnancy as inappropriate for HIV infected women and primarily drug users (P = 0.06) would abort if HIV infected. Over half thought HIV transmission occurred most times or always. Only 20% had heard of a drug to reduce this risk, but 95% would take such a therapy. These inner-city, pregnant women disapproved of pregnancy if HIV infected and thought the risk of transmission was high. They knew little of how to reduce this risk but nearly all would accept a drug to prevent transmission.

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