|
|
Article: Making it Mandatory: Should HIV Tests Be Required for Pregnant Women?
- Article from:
- Canadian Women's Health Network
- Article date:
- January 31, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Canadian Women's Health Network Jan 31, 1999. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
Making it Mandatory: Should HIV Tests Be Required for Pregnant Women?
The development of anti-retroviral drug therapies and the success of the drug AZT in reducing the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission has resulted in calls for increased testing of pregnant women. While no Canadian provinces or territories demand mandatory HIV tests for any population, the climate surrounding HIV testing in general, and the testing of pregnant women in particular, has made this issue one of increased public interest.
Background
Prior to 1994, there were few, if any, interventions known to reduce the risk of HIV transmission during pregnancy. However, in 1994, the results of an American clinical trial ...