Increasing the uptake of HIV testing in maternal health in Malawi

Despite the availability of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) in antenatal care clinic (ANC) settings, many HIV infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa give birth in health facilities without knowledge of their own HIV status, thereby missing an opportunity to prevent the vertical transmission of HIV to their infants and to care for their own health. The study identifies systemrelated, social and behavioural reasons that pregnant women present themselves at labour wards with unknown HIV status and do not receive HTC, either during labour or following delivery. Using primarily qualitative methods, a descriptive study was conducted in two districts in southern Malawi.