Disclosure and health‑related outcomes among children living with HIV and their caregivers

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of disclosure of status to children living with the Human Immunodefciency Virus (HIV) is low in most sub-Saharan African countries, leading to poor compliance and adverse psychological outcomes in these children. This study examined the infuence of disclosure on health outcomes in children living with HIV and their caregivers. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 155 HIV-positive children between age 6–15 years and their caregivers were administered standardized questionnaires measuring adherence to medication, children’s psychological well being, caregiver burden, and caregivers’ psychological health. Results: Results indicated that only 33.5% of the children sampled knew their status. Disclosure of HIV status was signifcantly related to medication adherence, psychological wellbeing, the burden of caregiving, and the length of the disclosure. A child’s age and level of education were the only demographic variables that signifcantly predicted disclosure of HIV status. In a hierarchical analysis, after controlling for all demographic variables medication adherence, psychological well-being and burden of caregiving were found to be signifcant predictors of disclosure of status in children living with HIV. Conclusions: Findings suggest the need for disclosure of status among children living with HIV for a positive impact on their medication adherence and psychological health. These fndings underscore the need for the development of context-specifc interventions that will guide and encourage disclosure of status by caregivers to children living with HIV