Successful Introduction of Routine Opt-Out HIV Testing

Abstract

Botswana has high HIV prevalence among pregnant women (37.4% in 2003) and provides free services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Nearly all pregnant women (.95%) have antenatal care (ANC) and deliver in hospital. Uptake of antenatal HIV testing was low from 1999 through 2003. In 2004, Botswana’s President declared that HIV testing should be ‘‘routine but not compulsory’’ in medical settings.