Abstract

AIMS:

The Ministry of Health in New Zealand announced implementation of antenatal HIV screening in June 2005, to begin in Waikato District Health Board and progressively roll-out to other health boards over 3 years. The implementation approach and experiences of the first implementation area are described.

METHODS:

A local multidisciplinary collaborative team facilitated implementation. Targeted antenatal healthcare provider education sessions and written resources were evaluated and testing outcomes were monitored.

RESULTS:

The approach to implementation appears to have been successful. Pre-implementation evaluations of written materials and targeted education sessions were very positive. Uptake of HIV testing amongst pregnant women undergoing antenatal blood testing has been very high (99.7%) during the first year of the programme.

CONCLUSIONS:

The antenatal HIV screening programme has been introduced successfully in the first district health board and wider national roll-out should now be a priority.