Background: In Brazil, AZT and other anti-retroviral drags are provided to HIV infected women and their babies by the MoH. Since 1997, the MoH has adopted a police of universal offering of HIV test to women during antenatal care(ANO). This study was aimed at assessing the level of HIV counselling and testing during ANC in Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional study among postpartum women was conducted in 12 cities highty affected by HIV/ATDS. A self-weighted stratified sample of data collecting days with proportional allocation to the number of deliveries per maternity was calculated independently for each city. Inclusion criteria: at least one ANC visit. Exclusion criteria: a clinical condition not allowing an interview. Interviews applying a structured questionnaire were conducted. Results: A total of 2,234 women were interviewed, corresponding to 20,886 women, Mean age was 25 years, 71,6% hadup to 8 years of education and 70,6% had at least 6 ANC visits. Awareness about HIV test and HIV perinatal transmission was 85.2%, television and health care providers were the main sources of information. A 26,4% reported a previous HIV test. HIV test acceptance rate was 92.7%. Overall test uptake was 77.5%, varying: among citics (47.7% to 94.4%); level of education (up to 4 years of education: 69%, more than 8 years of education: 82,3%), family mensal income per capita: 71,7% among those with up to 42 dollars and 84,1% among thosc with at least 60 dollars). Overall, 50,9% received information about HIV prevention during ANC. 48.2% reported that did not receive information about the meaning of test result. Conclusions: 1-HIV test awareness, acceptance rates and uptake was high; 2- Women with lower level of education and lower family income had lower levels of test uptake; 4- Television and health care providers were the main source of information about HIV test to this population; 5- interventions to improve HIV counselling should be implemented in Brazil.