Final Facilitator Guide - EngenderHealth

3SECTION 4Section 4POSITIVE PREVENTION PRACTICESSESSION 4.4 : CONTROVERSIES : TALKING POINTSTrainer’s resourceHIV tests should be mandatory for all pregnant women.There are strong arguments both for and against mandatory HIV testingof pregnant women. The issues to be considered are the right of privacyand the right of autonomy—for a woman to make decisions for herown health—versus the rights of the infant for protection and treatment.Mandatory testing identifies pregnant women who are unaware thatthey are carrying the HIV virus and allows for prenatal ARV therapy,resulting in a significant reduction in the chances of transmitting HIVto the unborn child. Considering the seriousness of HIV as a healthissue and the fact that there are PPTCT programs in every governmentantenatal clinic, it is mandatory to offer to test all pregnant women soas to prevent HIV transmission to the unborn child. However, if forwhatever reason a pregnant woman does not want to get tested forHIV, she should not be forced to get an HIV test. When this situationarises, it is best that doctors, nurses, and counselors speak with thewoman and try to convince her to have the test.Facilitator’s Guide3Adherence to Treatment for HIVHIV tests should be mandatory for all adults.The national AIDS policy states that no individual should be made toundergo mandatory testing for HIV. There is no public health rationalefor mandatory testing as it could scare away people who have HIVfrom getting tested and treated. Mandatory HIV testing violates theright of offering people the highest attainable standard of physical andmental health. Mandating an HIV test for everyone (even without their77