HIV Antenatal Testing
Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
2002
To provide the best possible information for the control and prevention of infectious diseases, by providing timely information and independent advice, and by carrying out disease surveillance, epidemiological investigation and related research and training. Data on some private patients attending public hospitals is not provided.
Voluntary participation - 19 maternity hospitals/units participating.
Data collected since 2002.
Antenatal HIV testing for pregnant women. In April 1999, the Department of Health and Children, on the advice of the National AIDS Strategy Committee (NASC), introduced a policy of voluntary antenatal HIV testing in Ireland. As part of this programme, it is recommended that HIV testing be offered to all women who attend for antenatal services. HPSC were asked to set up a system to monitor the HIV antenatal testing programme.
Maternity Units/Hospitals; Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG); Department of Health; Departments of Public Health; HPSC-HSE.
Aggregate data on number of women seen, number offered testing, number accepted testing, number positive, number new positive.
Not available. No individual data are collected.
Data are collected on an annual basis by the HPSC from maternity hospitals and units. Surveillance forms are completed by staff in maternity hospitals/clinics on paper or electronically and returned to HPSC.
Not required.
19 Maternity Hospitals/Units provide data which contributes 19 records of data annually.
Reports on the Antenatal HIV programme are published annually on the HPSC website.
Data requests can be submitted via hpsc@hse.ie and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
No.