ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b><br> Provider initiated testing and counseling (PITC) for HIV testing, which is not a mandatory HIV testing policy, to pregnant women was being introducing in many countries. The aim of this study was to assess impact and issues raised by the PITC approach for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services at an antenatal clinic (ANC) in the capital of Cambodia.<br><b>Method</b><br> Impact of the PITC approach on the acceptance of PMTCT services was determined by comparing quantitative data indicating the uptakes of PMTCT services during the first one year of PITC with the prior one year.<br><b>Results</b><br> The acceptance rate of HIV testing dramatically increased from 35.9% (3,033/8,459) to 95.3% (7,780/8,162) (p<0.001), however the acceptance rate of post-test counseling after tested declined from 92.1% (2,793/3,033) to 73.9% (5,753/7,780) (p<0.001). The return rates of pregnant women tested with partners and without partners to post-test counseling were, respectively, 85.5% (1,913/2,237) and 69.7% (3,840/5,507) in PITC approach (p<0.001) although this difference was not significant in VCT approach.<br><b>Conclusions</b><br> Although it can be agreed that the PITC approach was an effective strategy to increase the uptake of HIV testing, the remarkable declines of the post-test counseling acceptance lead concern about unexpected needs of counselors and the possibility of negative response to the HIV testing by their partners since the women tested without partners in PITC approach are less likely to return to post-test counseling compared to VCT approach. Further investigation on the reasons why some tested women didn’t receive post-test counseling is needed to find out strategies to keep or increase the acceptance of post-test counseling safely in the PITC approach. It was suggested that we still need to take into account the roles of counseling and partners’ involvement in careful consideration of women’s personal safety even in the implementation of PITC approach.