TY - JOUR
T1 - The right not to know HIV-test results
AU - Ndinya-Achola, J.
AU - Ambani, J.
AU - Temmerman, M.
AU - Piot, P.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by grants from the Science and Technology for Developing Countries (STD) programme (Contract number Tsp-M-0003-B) of the Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium; and the Global Programme on AIDS, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
PY - 1995/4/15
Y1 - 1995/4/15
N2 - Large numbers of pregnant women in Africa have been invited to participate in studies on HIV infection. Study protocols adhere to guidelines on voluntary participation after pre-test and post-test counselling and informed consent; nevertheless, women may consent because they have been asked to do so without fully understanding the implications of being tested for HIV. Our studies in Nairobi, Kenya, show that most women tested after giving informed consent did not actively request their results, less than one third informed their partner, and violence against women because of a positive HIV-antibody test was common. It is important to have carefully designed protocols weighing the benefits against the potential harms for women participating in a study. Even after having consented to HIV testing, women should have the right not to be told their result.
AB - Large numbers of pregnant women in Africa have been invited to participate in studies on HIV infection. Study protocols adhere to guidelines on voluntary participation after pre-test and post-test counselling and informed consent; nevertheless, women may consent because they have been asked to do so without fully understanding the implications of being tested for HIV. Our studies in Nairobi, Kenya, show that most women tested after giving informed consent did not actively request their results, less than one third informed their partner, and violence against women because of a positive HIV-antibody test was common. It is important to have carefully designed protocols weighing the benefits against the potential harms for women participating in a study. Even after having consented to HIV testing, women should have the right not to be told their result.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028987537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90707-6
DO - 10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90707-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 7619122
AN - SCOPUS:0028987537
SN - 0140-6736
VL - 345
SP - 969
EP - 970
JO - The Lancet
JF - The Lancet
IS - 8955
ER -
