Expressed desire for children and life partners among a cohort of African-American and Latino youth living with HIV/AIDS

BACKGROUND: 25% of new HIV infections occur among individuals under age 22 and 50% occur among those under age 26. One quarter of all HIV cases in the US are found in the New York/ New Jersey region. With the advances in HIV treatment, young people with HIV are living longer lives and have hopes and desires similar to other adolescents. The desire to have children and the reproductive needs of young people living with HIV are not well understood.

METHODS: Sixty youth living with behaviorally-acquired HIV/AIDS (61% African-American and 33% Latino) were recruited from five adolescent HIV medical clinics throughout NYC between 2004 and 2006. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted, audio-taped, transcribed, thematically coded by two independent coders (Kappa .85) entered into Atlas.ti software and analyzed.

RESULTS: A significant proportion of young women and men with HIV expressed a desire to have children. A 19 year old male participant said “I want a family for sure and before I die I'm going to raise one” and HIV “inspired me to have a child even more.” Some youth articulated sophisticated protective strategies such as sperm washing, surrogate mothers, artificial insemination, and adoption, to preserve their health, and that of their partners and future children.

CONCLUSION: Many young people with HIV have similar life goals as their HIV-negative counterparts, which includes having a life partner and children. Providers and communities need to be aware of these desires and provide appropriate support and counseling regarding family and child-bearing goals.