Maternal HIV retesting during antenatal care in selected health facilities in Mayuge district, Uganda: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: PLOS global public health Vol. 5; no. 1; p. e0004173
• Main Authors: Kayiwa, Farouq, Nabiwemba, Elizabeth, Bunani, Nelson, Ndejjo, Rawlance
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 15.01.2025; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Medicine and Health Sciences; People and Places
• ISSN: 2767-3375; 2767-3375
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004173

Vertical transmission of HIV continues to be a key contributor to pediatric HIV infections globally. Routine HIV testing at each antenatal care (ANC) visit can reduce the likelihood of such infections. However, a sub-optimal number of women are re-tested for HIV on their subsequent ANC visits. This study determined the proportion of pregnant women who were retested during ANC and the associated factors in selected health facilities in Mayuge district, Uganda. This was a cross-sectional study that utilized quantitative data collection techniques among 344 randomly selected women recorded as HIV-negative at their first ANC visit in 2022 from records at selected health facilities in Mayuge district. A semi-structured questionnaire designed in Kobo Collect software was utilized to collect the data. The data were collected through in-person interviews or by phone. Descriptive data were reported for the sample, and multivariable modified Poisson regression models were fitted to estimate prevalence ratios for factors associated with HIV re-testing. Out of 344 women attending ANC, 18.6% (64/344) had been retested for HIV. The factors associated with HIV retesting included attending ANC in the second trimester (APR = 0.62; 95%CI:0.40–0.98), attending at least four ANC visits (APR = 2.24; 95% CI:1.22–4.09), having a planned pregnancy (APR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.14–3.37), being satisfied with the quality of health services provided (APR = 1.79; 95%CI: 1.05–3.04), and having easily accessible HIV testing resources at the ANC clinic (APR = 2.04; 95%CI: 1.08–3.85). HIV retesting during ANC in Mayuge district was low and mostly influenced by ANC-related factors at the individual and systems levels. These factors ought to be addressed to improve the uptake of maternal HIV retesting.