[HIV screening of pregnant women and women seeking abortion. A preventive measure against HIV?].
In our opinion, screening of women seeking abortion and pregnant women does not benefit the work of HIV-prevention. Of the 115,600 tested from September 1987 to December 1988 in Norway, four new and HIV-positive and 92 false positive women were diagnosed. From the time screening started in September 1987 to the end of February 1989, the program has cost NOK 6-7 million. The prevalence of HIV among pregnant and abortion-seeking women is too low, and the problems associated with false positive results are too great for the project to be recommended. Pregnant women and women seeking abortion, and their partners, should be given the possibility of taking the HIV-test in the same manner as other low prevalence groups, where information and counselling are integrated and confidentiality is secured.