Patterns of diagnosis disclosure and its correlates in HIV-Infected North Indian children

J Trop Pediatr. 2011 Dec;57(6):405-11. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmq115. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

Abstract

This facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the patterns of disclosure of HIV positive serostatus among 145 Indian children aged >5 years. Only 60 (41.4%) children were aware of their HIV-positive status. Disclosure was most frequently done by parents [51/60 (85%)] at a mean age of 9.1 ± 1.4 years. The rate of inaccurate disclosure was high [64/85 (75.3%)]. No information regarding their illness was given to 21/85 (24.7%) children. The most common reason for non-disclosure was that the child is too young [79/85 (92.9%)]. The factors favoring disclosure were increasing duration since diagnosis of HIV infection [odds ratio (OR) = 1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.93], non-perinatal mode of transmission (OR = 6.14; 95% CI 2.01-15.80), ART initiation (OR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.33-7.01), school enrolment (OR = 3.52; 95% CI 1.44-7.57) and caregiver educated beyond fifth grade (OR = 2.69; 95% CI 1.21-5.96). Detailed guidelines on disclosure are required focusing on children of school-going age with perinatal infection who are not on ART and with caregivers of low educational status.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Caregivers
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disclosure / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections* / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections* / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections* / transmission
  • Humans
  • India
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents