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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Matthew S. Pantell, BA, Health Policy Center, The Urban Institute, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, (202) 261-5832, MPantell@ui.urban.org and Carolyn LaMargo, MSW, University of California, San Francisco, 631 West End Avenue, Apt. 3, New York, NY 10024.

As children born with HIV mature into adolescence, their families inevitably face the issue of disclosing their diagnosis to them. The question of how and when to disclose to a child born with HIV may be the source of much debate between those that care for her or him. Although published guidelines encourage disclosure to school-aged children, parents/guardians may have reservations because of concern over the child's reaction, fear of a child telling others, or guilt about transmitting the virus to a child. While many studies have interviewed parents and guardians about their thoughts and concerns about disclosure, rarely has a study interviewed the children who have been disclosed to about their insights. This study analyzes the disclosure experiences of 14 children who were born with HIV and had been disclosed to prior to being interviewed. Questions were designed to reveal how the children thought the overall experience went and how they thought the process could be improved. Popular advice among youth respondents for improving the disclosure process included telling the truth, disclosing at a younger age, giving extensive information about HIV, and disclosing in a nurturing environment. Many children suggested downplaying the negative connotation of the diagnosis.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the perspectives that children born with HIV have on the disclosure process.
• Articulate concerns and advice that children who were born with HIV have about the disclosure process.
• Execute an age-appropriate disclosure to a child born with HIV.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered