Health services delivery factors affecting HIV retesting among pregnant women at 34 weeks gestation in Saboba District, Northern region, Ghana.

Background: Vertical transmission of HIV is a major global public health issue, particularly due to maternal HIV acquisition during pregnancy, challenges in enrolling pregnant women living with HIV into antiretroviral therapy programmes, and loss to follow-up. The factors influencing HIV retesting in pregnant women with an initial HIV-negative results are understudied. The study examined health service delivery factors affecting HIV retesting among pregnant women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six health facilities in the Saboba District in 2023. Pregnant women who initially tested HIV-negative and were attending antenatal clinics at 34 weeks gestation or later were randomly selected. Data was analyzed using Stata version 15.0. Logistic regression was used to examined the health service factors affecting HIV retesting at a 0.05 significant level.

Results: Out of 445 pregnant women initially HIV-negative, only 21.1% were retested at 34 weeks gestation. Pregnant women receiving antenatal care at health centers were less likely to be retested [aOR = 0.34; CI: 0.14-0.84], while those who spent less time during ANC were more likely to retest [aOR = 2.58; CI: 1.33-5.01].

Conclusions: Improvement in HIV retesting requires reproductive health units to develop strategies to enhance coverage and reduce waiting times at health centers could encourage more pregnant women to retest for HIV.