Disclosure of parental HIV infection to children in the families of men with hemophilia: Description, outcomes, and the role of family processes.

Abstract

Disclosure of serostatus is a difficult issue faced by individuals who have the AIDS virus, particularly when the HIV-infected individual is a parent and the question is whether to disclose to a child. The present study examined disclosure of paternal HIV status and the associations between disclosure and child functioning in the families of men who have hemophilia and are HIV infected. Results indicated that disclosure of HIV status was more common with older children, among Caucasian families, and in families in which fathers are more ill. The parent-child relationship, but not disclosure, was significantly associated with child functioning when disclosure was considered within the content of the family processes. A more positive parent-child relationship was related to lower levels of child depression and externalizing problems and to better grades.