174748 Traumatic life events among children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS in China

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 12:30 PM

Xiaoming Li, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Xiaoyi Fang, PhD , Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Guoxiang Zhao, PhD , Department of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
Junfeng Zhao, PhD , Department of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
Yan Hong, PhD , Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX
Liying Zhang, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Douglas Barnett, PhD , Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Bonita Stanton, MD , Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
     
Background: In addition to the obstacles faced by any children whose parents have died, children orphaned by AIDS may experience additional trauma events. There are limited data available regarding the traumatic events and mental health status of AIDS orphans in China. The current study was designed to examine the traumatic events experienced by children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS in comparison with their peers from the same communities; and the association between exposure of traumatic events and psychosocial adjustment among the study population.

Methods: The current study was conducted in central China where the residents had been infected with HIV through unhygienic blood collection. The participants include 755 AIDS orphans, 456 affected children, and 404 comparison children. Five measures of traumatic life events were employed: occurrence, density, duration of impact, initial impact and lasting impact.

Results: Both bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the AIDS orphans scored significantly higher than other children on all five measures of traumatic events. Children affected by HIV/AIDS also reported significantly high occurrence of traumatic events than the comparison children. All five traumatic measures were positively correlated with the anxiety and depression.

Conclusions: Data in the current study confirmed our hypotheses that AIDS orphans and affected children experienced more traumatic life events than their peers in the same communities. Trauma exposure is highly associated with psychosocial adjustments, controlling for children status, sex, and age. The data suggest the needs for developmentally appropriate psychological counseling and support to children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS in China.

Learning Objectives:
1. Examine the prevalence of traumatic life events among children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS in China; 2. Assess the association between exposure of traumatic events and psychosocial adjustment among the study population; and 3. Discuss the implications of findings in psychological support to AIDS orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS parents.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Children

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of the study and the person who developed the abstract
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: HIV and Asia: Emerging Issues
See more of: HIV/AIDS