Expectant mothers take up routine HIV testing

Scores of pregnant women in Botswana's second largest commercial centre, Francistown, are embracing routine HIV testing, a study has revealed. Conducted by the Botswana-USA (BOTUSA) Project, the research shows that routine testing has boosted the rates of test acceptance, return and results-seeking, as compared to voluntary HIV testing. BOTUSA's principal investigator, Dr Tracy Creek, was quoted by a local newspaper, The Reporter, as saying: "As opposed to the opt-in or voluntary testing, where accepting the test is like admitting that you have engaged in unsafe sex, or that you or your partner has been unfaithful, the opt-out or routine testing suggests that we are all vulnerable and it is upon us to discover our status. As such, routine testing bears less or no stigma, hence the high acceptance rates." Statistically, 92 percent of new clients visiting clinics had agreed to undergo routine HIV tests, while 76 percent agreed to voluntary testing.