ABSTRACT
Heterosexual transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to women, in the UK., continues to increase. Interviews with midwife practitioners revealed that the majority were in favour of offering the HIV test to all women in the antenatal clinic. As a response to the recommendations of the research findings the post of HIV specialist counsellor was created with a remit of developing a comprehensive HIV counselling and testing service. Key midwife practitioners work closely with the HIV specialist counsellor and maintain continuity of the HIV counselling and testing service in her absence. They provide pre and post HIV test counselling and support to other midwife practitioners within their team around the issues related to HIV. The HIV specialist counsellor offers supervision to monitor, develop and support the individual in their counselling role. Future research is also required to monitor the cost effectiveness of offering voluntary named HIV testing in the antenatal clinic.
