HIV-affected Children Research Articles

Ontological management of HIV-affected children: a case report

Ontological management of HIV-affected children: a case report

Empowering and supporting frontline providers in the paediatric-adolescent HIV response: results from participatory priority-setting and group discussions in twenty-four sites in twelve high HIV-burden African countries

ABSTRACT Children and adolescents living with HIV in Africa experience poor outcomes across the HIV cascade of care. Paediatric and adolescent-friendly services are crucial to their well-being, and recent years have seen a call for urgent service improvements. While frontline health workers are responsible for these services, less attention has been given to their contextual realities, and what constitutes an enabling service delivery environment. We engaged participatory priority-setting and group discussions across twenty-four sites in twelve high HIV-burden African countries in November 2022 with 801 frontline paediatric-adolescent providers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and priority mapping. We constructed a socio-ecological model for supportive and empowering service delivery environments for frontline paediatric-adolescent HIV services. Individual-level themes related to well-being, self-care and mental health. Interpersonal themes included supportive supervision/mentorship, teamwork and acknowledgement. At the organisational level, resources, physical infrastructure and confidential spaces were included. The community level included feeling appreciated and positive stakeholder relationships. The structural level included funding, discriminatory SRHR policies and guidelines. Results provide insight into priorities, challenges and needs of frontline providers in the paediatric-adolescent HIV response. Improving the well-being of HIV-affected children and adolescents requires greater investment and attention to creating more caring, supportive environments for their frontline providers.

Undernutrition among HIV-positive Children of age 1-5 Years attending the ART Clinic in Bushenyi Health Centre IV Ishaka-Bushenyi Municipality, Bushenyi District

Worldwide, more than 3.4 million children under the age of 5 are infected with HIV. Both acute and chronic malnutrition are major problems for HIV-positive children living in resource-limited settings. In Uganda, the data from ART clinics revealed that up to 23% of mothers and 50% of children who were on treatment have moderate acute malnutrition. To understand undernutrition in HIV-positive children aged 1–5 years in Bushenyi District, western Uganda, a study was conducted in Bushenyi Health Centre IV to determine the common forms of undernutrition, mother awareness of undernutrition, and the management protocol conferred on HIV-positive children. There were 61 participants, of whom 54% were female and 46% were male; 41% were between the ages of 1-2 years; 31% were 5 years; and 28% were 3–4 years. The study indicated that 82% of the guardians had good knowledge about undernutrition, with 18% having little knowledge of the problem in HIV-positive children. In this study, using the z-score in data analysis, there were 3 children who were less than -2 SD (-2 standard deviation), and the overall prevalence of undernutrition was 5%. The guardians were asked whether they had heard about Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in the hospital management of undernutrition in HIV-positive children, and 79% of the respondents confirmed that they had heard about it and that they preferred their undernourished children to be managed with that form from the health units. However, 21% preferred managing their children from home without getting to the health unit. The prevalence of undernutrition in HIV-affected children aged 1–5 years is high, and the majority of the children are underweight with moderate acute malnutrition. Some HIV-positive caretakers still have inadequate knowledge about undernutrition in their children. Some people lack knowledge about the management of undernutrition in HIV-positive children. Keywords: HIV, ART, Malnutrition, Undernutrition

In utero/peripartum antiretroviral therapy exposure and mental health outcomes at 8-18 years old: A longitudinal comparative study of children with perinatally acquired HIV, children perinatally HIV exposed but uninfected, and children unexposed uninfected from Uganda.

In utero/peripartum antiretroviral therapy (IPA) exposure type was examined in relationship to mental health symptoms among 577 children with perinatally acquired HIV (CPHIV), children perinatally HIV exposed but uninfected (CHEU), and children HIV unexposed uninfected (CHUU). IPA exposure was categorized for CPHIV and CHEU as none, single-dose nevirapine with or without zidovudine (sdNVP±AZT), sdNVP+AZT+lamivudine (3TC), or combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were reported at baseline, 6-, and 12-month follow-up per behavioral assessment system for children. Multivariable linear mixed models were used to estimate differences (b) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for IPA exposure types versus CHEU without IPA exposure. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were lower in CHUU relative to CHEU and CPHIV but did not differ between CPHIV and CHEU. CHEU with sdNVP±AZT exposure had greater anxiety (b = 0.51, 95% CI: [0.06, 0.96]) and depressive symptoms (b = 0.48, 95% CI: [0.07, 0.89]) than CHEU without IPA exposure. CHEU with sdNVP+AZT+3TC exposure had higher anxiety (b = 0.0.45, 95% CI: [0.03, 0.86]) and depressive symptoms (b = 0.72, 95% CI: [0.27, 1.17]) versus CHEU without IPA exposure. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were not different for CHEU and CPHIV exposed to cART (b = 0.12-0.60, 95% CI: [-0.41, 1.30]) and CHEU and CHUU (b = -0.04 to 0.08, 95% CI: [-0.24, 0.29]) without IPA exposure. Among CHEU, peripartum sdNVP±AZT and sdNVP+AZT+3TC but not cART compared to no IPA exposure was associated with clinically important elevations in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Monitoring of mental health trajectory of HIV-affected children considering IPA is needed to inform mental health interventions. Patient Contribution: Caregivers and their dependents provided consent for participation and collaborated with study team to identify mutually convenient times for protocol implementation.

Depression due to loss of a parent in a child with HIV

HIV-infected and HIV-affected children experience grief from the death of their family, many caregiver transitions, and the potentially traumatic experience of living under stigma. Boy patient, 9 years old, Hindu, Balinese, single, not working, was consulted from the pediatric department and admitted in the Cempaka room of Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah on April 6, 2023. From auto-anamnesis, he has a depressive mood, loss of interest and excitement, weight loss, fatigue or loss of energy, insomnia, psychomotor agitation, or retardation. The patient was diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2014 when he was a year and six months old. The patient lost his father in February 2023. The patient experienced depression caused by psychosocial stressors because of the loss of his father and was diagnosed with HIV. HIV-infected children are prone to get depression. One of the psychosocial stressors experienced by children with HIV is the prolonged mourning process due to the loss of a family member. Comprehensive treatment is needed in the form of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Family support is the most important thing in relieving symptoms of depression and increasing medication adherence.

Predictive validation of Ugandan infant eye-tracking test for memory of human faces

ABSTRACT We provide initial evidence that an eye-tracking based measure of infant attention and working memory (gaze preference for novel human faces) can predict aspects of neurocognitive performance years later among Ugandan children. 49 HIV-exposed/uninfected Ugandan children (22 boys, 27 girls) 6-12 months old were tested with the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and a modified Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence (FTII). Modified FTII measures pertaining to attention are correlated to the KABC-II Mental Processing Index (MPI) (rp = -0.40), p Cognitive assessments adapted to eye-tracking instrumentation can be useful to evaluate attention and working memory in HIV-affected children living in low- and middle-income countries.

The Value of a Motor Intervention for 3 to 6-Year-Old Children Infected with and Affected by HIV.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Aquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a large threat to human health and is challenging to address. This study aims to determine if motor intervention is a possibility for promoting the life expectancy and quality of life of children with HIV. The group consisted of 22 participants: 11 HIV-infected (51.73 months, SD 10.15) and 11 HIV-affected children (44.45 months, SD 10.76). A two-group (intervention and control group) pre-test–post-test research design was followed. The HIV-infected and affected children were randomly matched and grouped into an intervention and control group. The intervention group participated in a 12-week motor intervention of 60 min per session, twice per week. The effect of the program was analyzed with regard to motor skills, as established by the PDMS-2 and two strength capabilities. An ANCOVA adjusted for pre-test differences (p < 0.05) indicated statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) with large practical significance (d > 0.8) in locomotor, fine motor and overall motor skills. The infected children also showed better improvement compared to the affected children. Motor intervention is recommended in the health care path of children affected and infected with HIV, although modifications for improvement of the program are suggested, based on the results attained.

6 - Children at Risk: A Study of the Psychosocial Impact of HIV on Orphans and other Vulnerable Children in Benin

This paper describes the effect of parental HIV on the life of children in Benin. A total of 2,043 children aged from 10 to 16 were surveyed on health, diet, violence, school attendance and psychosocial state. The results indicate that, while Beninese children who have had a parent living with HIV are not necessarily subjected to different economic and material conditions than those who have not, they do experience a much greater lack of psychosocial support. In contrast to children whose parents are not known to have HIV, these affected children are less prone to general illness (OR=0.69, 95 per cent CI 0.55-0.86). However, when they are sick, HIV-affected children are significantly more likely to undertake self-treatment (OR=1.38; 95 per cent CI 1.04-1.86) and more likely to work (OR=1.65, 95 per cent CI 1.04-2.60). They are also offered fewer meals than unaffected children (OR=1.94; 95 per cent CI 1.52-2.47). With respect to psychosocial fac- tors, the data suggest that children who have had a parent with HIV have signifi- cantly higher levels of psychological distress than those who have not. Govern- ments and civil society organisations need to address not only the material deprivation, especially hunger, of children thus affected by HIV, but also their need for social services.

Food Should not be Forgotten: Impacts of Combined Cash Transfer Receipt and Food Security on Child Education and Cognition in South Africa and Malawi

Social protection can take many forms. Both cash transfers and food security may have important contributions to child cognitive development. This study examines the potential impact of combinations of cash transfers and food security status on child cognitive development and educational outcomes. Cross-sectional data for 796 HIV-affected children in the Child Community Care study were utilised for this analysis. Children and caregivers completed interview schedules comprised of standardised items on socio-demographics, household data, cash grant receipt and food security status, school achievement, and cognition. A series of logistic and linear regression models and marginal effects analyses were undertaken to explore the impacts of differing levels of social protection (none; either cash grant receipt or food secure status or, both in combination) on child educational and cognitive outcomes. Although all children lived in poverty-stricken households, 20% (157/796) of children did not live in a household in receipt of a cash grant and did not report food security; 32.4% (258/796) reported either component of social protection and, 47.9% (381/796) received both measures of social protection in combination. Compared to no social protection, being in receipt of either component of social protection was found to be significantly associated with being in the correct class for age, higher scores of non-verbal cognition, and higher working memory scores. Receiving both social protection measures in combination was found to be significantly associated with reduced educational risk scores, improved odds of being in the correct class for age, regular school attendance, missing less than a week of school in the previous two weeks, higher scores on measures of nonverbal cognition, higher working memory scores, and learning new things more easily. Educational and cognitive outcomes for children can be bolstered by social protection measures (cash grant receipt or food security). Benefits are enhanced when social protection is received in combination. Such findings support the notion of synergistic social protection responses for children living in environments impacted by high levels of HIV burden and deprivation.

Executive function in HIV-affected children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analyses

ABSTRACT This review aimed to determine: whether EF is affected in children and adolescents (2–24-years-old) with perinatal HIV infection, perinatal HIV exposure without infection, and behaviourally acquired HIV. A systematic review (PROSPERO number: CRD42017067813) was conducted using 11 electronic databases (01.01.1981–09.07.2019) and 8 conference websites. Primary quantitative studies with EF scores on cognitive tasks and/or behavioural report measures were included. Meta-analyses were performed by EF subtype and subpopulations compared. 1789 records were found. Sixty-one studies were included in the narrative synthesis; 32 (N = 7884 participants) were included in meta-analyses. There was a distinct pattern of reduced EF in those with perinatal HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy compared to controls: pooled effect sizes were largest for verbal and visuospatial working memory, with smaller effects on planning, inhibitory control and set-shifting. Data were limited for other HIV-affected subpopulations. Perinatal HIV infection is associated with reduced EF with varying effect sizes for the different EF subtypes.

Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevalence Among Women at Risk for HIV Exposure Initiating Safer Conception Care in Rural, Southwestern Uganda.

Knowledge of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence and risk factors is important to the development of tenofovir-based preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and safer conception programming. We introduced STI screening among women at risk for HIV exposure who were participating in a safer conception study in southwestern Uganda. We enrolled 131 HIV-uninfected women, planning for pregnancy with a partner living with HIV or of unknown HIV serostatus (2018-2019). Women were offered comprehensive safer conception counseling, including PrEP. Participants completed interviewer-administered questionnaires detailing sociodemographics and sexual history. We integrated laboratory screening for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis as a substudy to assess STI prevalence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine correlates. Ninety-four women completed STI screening (72% of enrolled). Median age was 30 (interquartile range, 26-34) years, and 94% chose PrEP as part of safer conception care. Overall, 24% had STIs: 13% chlamydia, 2% gonorrhea, 6% trichomoniasis, 6% syphilis, and 3% ≥2 STI. Sexually transmitted infection prevalence was associated with younger age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-0.99), prior stillbirth (AOR, 5.04; 95% CI, 1.12-22.54), and not feeling vulnerable to HIV (AOR, 16.33; 95% CI, 1.12-237.94). We describe a 24% curable STI prevalence among women at risk for HIV exposure who were planning for pregnancy. These data highlight the importance of integrating laboratory-based STI screening into safer conception programs to maximize the health of HIV-affected women, children, and families.

Agricultural and Finance Intervention Increased Dietary Intake and Weight of Children Living in HIV-Affected Households in Western Kenya.

ABSTRACTWe tested whether a multisectoral household agricultural and finance intervention increased the dietary intake and improved the nutritional status of HIV-affected children. Two hospitals in rural Kenya were randomly assigned to be either the intervention or the control arm. The intervention comprised a human-powered water pump, microfinance loan for farm commodities, and training in sustainable farming practices and financial management. In each arm, 100 children (0–59 mo of age) were enrolled from households with HIV-infected adults 18–49 y old. Children were assessed beginning in April 2012 and every 3 mo for 1 y for dietary intake and anthropometry. Children in the intervention arm had a larger increase in weight (β: 0.025 kg/mo, P = 0.030), overall frequency of food consumption (β: 0.610 times · wk–1 · mo–1, P = 0.048), and intakes of staples (β: 0.222, P = 0.024), fruits and vegetables (β: 0.425, P = 0.005), meat (β: 0.074, P < 0.001), and fat (β: 0.057, P = 0.041). Livelihood interventions have potential to improve the nutrition of HIV-affected children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01548599.

An Agricultural and Finance Intervention Improved Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Children Living in HIV-affected Households in Western Kenya (P10-129-19)

ObjectivesTo test whether an intervention that was shown previously to have improved food security, dietary intake of adults, and HIV health outcomes also improved dietary intake and nutritional status of children living in HIV-affected households. MethodsThe study was conducted in the Nyanza Region, Kenya where two health facilities were randomly assigned as intervention or control arms. The intervention included a human-powered water pump, a microfinance loan to purchase farm commodities, and training in sustainable farming practices and financial management. One hundred children (6 to 60 months of age) were enrolled in each arm from households with HIV-infected adults 18 to 49 years old on antiretroviral therapy and with access to surface water and land. Children were assessed beginning in April 2012 and every three months for one year. Data were collected on dietary intake, height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). The difference in differences from first visit and in linear trends over visits were tested using fixed-effects regression models. ResultsCompared to the control arm, children in the intervention arm had a larger increase in weight at the 12-month visit (β: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.76) and increase in MUAC at the 6-month visit (β: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.49), with no difference in changes in height over time. Compared to the control arm, the intervention arm had a larger increasing linear trend over time in intake of staples (β: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.44), fruits and vegetables (β: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.75), and meat (β: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.12), and a larger decreasing linear trend in intake of condiments (β: -0.16, 95% CI: -0.23, -0.09) and tea (β: -0.12, 95% CI: -0.19, -0.05), with no differences in intake of eggs, dairy and fat over time. ConclusionsThis intervention that improved food security, dietary intake, and HIV health outcomes of HIV-infected adults also improved dietary intake and nutritional status of children living in those households. Multisectoral agricultural and financial interventions have the potential to improve the nutritional status of HIV-affected children in rural Kenya and should be further explored. Funding SourcesNational Institute of Mental Health.

A cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate a resilience-based intervention for caregivers of HIV-affected children in China.

The Child-Caregiver-Advocacy Resilience (ChildCARE) intervention aims to enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of children affected by parental HIV by providing programing at three levels: child, caregiver, and community. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the intervention's efficacy in improving mental health and parenting outcomes for participating caregivers. A cluster randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate initial efficacy of the intervention. A total of 790 caregivers of children affected by parental HIV were recruited from Henan, China. Caregivers and their children were randomly assigned to one-of-four intervention arms (control, child-only, child + caregiver, child + caregiver + community) to evaluate the multiple components of ChildCARE. Those assigned to receive the caregiver intervention participated in five 2-h intervention sessions designed to improve their parenting skills and enhance their ability to cope with daily stressors. Caregivers reported on their mental health and parenting behaviors at baseline, 12, 24, and 36 months, with mixed effect modeling used to examine intervention effects. Caregivers who participated in the intervention reported decreased anxiety and parental stress at 12 months (P < 0.05). Participants also reported increased use of structured parenting skills (i.e., parental demandingness) at 12 and 24 months (P < 0.05). However, by 36 months, they reported significantly lower levels of parental competence (P < 0.01) than those assigned to the control condition. Preliminary findings suggest that the caregiving component of ChildCARE yields initial improvements in some key parenting and mental health outcomes. However, the challenges of caring for children affected by HIV are complex and may require more intensive intervention to yield marked, positive changes across key caregiver outcomes.

Stigma as experienced by children of HIV-positive parents: a narrative review

ABSTRACTThis narrative review examines the effects on children of stigma by association with an HIV-positive parent. It expands on previous reviews by including all HIV-affected children, whether orphaned or living with a parent with HIV, and considers the broad effects of stigma-by-association (SBA), including but not limited to the psychological impact. Studies met the following criteria – sample included children, ages 6–19 years old, who were not HIV-positive but were currently living with or had lived with a parent who was HIV-positive (i.e., AIDS orphans). Study findings included children’s perspectives on stigma and were available in English. Studies for inclusion were identified by searches in Psychinfo, Proquest, and PubMed from 1996 through 2016. This review substantiates that children across countries and cultures experience HIV SBA. SBA is associated with psychological or emotional problems, disrupted peer and adult relationships, and poor school outcomes for children. Orphans were more likely than children living with positive parents to experience negative outcomes, which can have a long-term impact. Felt stigma was as prevalent as enacted stigma and may become the focus of intervention as HIV disease increasingly becomes a concealable disease. The review findings also point to the complexity of relationships between SBA and variables such as poverty and mental health and the bi-directional relationship between SBA and depression. We adapt a stigma framework developed for people living with HIV (PLWHIV) to structure the results of this review. With these findings, we can develop interventions that support stigma reduction with children and their parents, responding to the wide range of stigma consequences and customized to the children’s family and cultural context.

Development and validation of a 20-item screening scale to detect major depressive disorder among adolescents with HIV in rural Uganda: A mixed-methods study

BackgroundDepression is a major cause of disability among children and adolescents and is associated with elevated risks for substance abuse, HIV transmission risk behavior, and suicide. Among adolescents living with HIV (ALWH), depression undermines adherence to antiretroviral treatment, leading to poorer health outcomes. However, there are few instruments available for depression screening among ALWH in sub-Saharan Africa. MethodsUsing mixed methods we developed and validated a 20-item depression screening scale to be used among ALWH in rural Uganda. First, we conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with adolescents and adult caregivers (n = 80) to elicit participant perspectives about mental health challenges facing HIV-affected children and adolescents. We generated an initial pool of 40 items, pilot tested it with ALWH and adolescents of unknown serostatus (n = 40), and then administered the items to a validation sample of ALWH (n = 224). Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the factor structure of the scale. We evaluated the scale for its reliability, and validity. ResultsThe mean age of the participants in the validation sample was 14.9 years (standard deviation [SD] 1.4), 131 (58%) were girls and 48 (21%) were orphans. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors related to affective and cognitive symptoms of depression. The 20-item depression scale was internally consistent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91) with moderate test-retest and inter-rater reliability. Construct validity was excellent, as demonstrated through correlation with related constructs like stigma (P< 0.001) and bullying (P< 0.001). At the optimized cutoff score, 64 (29%) participants screened positive for probable depression. Using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents, we found that 37 participants (17%) were diagnosed with major depressive disorder. In reference to the criterion standard, the depression scale showed excellent discrimination (c-statistic = 0.84). ConclusionThis new 20-item depression scale was reliable and valid for detecting major depressive disorder among ALWH in rural Uganda.

The Multilevel Relationships of HIV-Related Stigma to Child and Caregiver Mental Health among HIV-Affected Households in South Africa.

HIV/AIDS-related (HAR) stigma is still a prevalent problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, and has been found to be related to mental health of HIV-positive individuals. However, no studies in the Sub-Saharan African context have yet examined the relationship between HAR stigma and mental health among HIV-negative, HIV-affected adults and families; nor have any studies in this context yet examined stigma as an ecological construct predicting mental health outcomes through supra-individual (setting level) and individual levels of influence. Multilevel modeling was used to examine multilevel, ecological relationships between HAR stigma and mental health among child and caregiver pairs from a systematic, community-representative sample of 508 HIV-affected households nested within 24 communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Two distinct dimensions of HAR stigma were measured: individual stigmatizing attitudes, and perceptions of community normative stigma. Findings suggest that individual-level HAR stigma significantly predicts individual mental health (depression and anxiety) among HIV-affected adults; and that community-level HAR stigma significantly predicts both individual-level mental health outcomes (anxiety) among HIV-affected adults, and mental health outcomes (PTSD and externalizing behavior scores) among HIV-affected children. Differentiated patterns of relationships were found using the two different stigma measures. These findings of unique relationships identified when utilizing two conceptually distinct stigma measures, at two levels of analysis (individual and community) suggest that HAR stigma in this context should be conceptualized as a multilevel, multidimensional construct. These findings have important implications both for mental health interventions and for interventions to reduce HAR stigma in this context.

Prevalence and risk factors for child mental disorders in a population-based cohort of HIV-exposed and unexposed African children aged 7-11years.

Despite being home to a large population of vulnerable children there is a dearth of population-based evidence on childhood mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. Parent and child mental health are rarely measured concurrently, despite potential for confounding with other risk factors, including parental HIV. Using the parent-report Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) we assessed children's mental health in a population-based cohort of 1536 HIV-negative children (31% HIV-exposed, 18% HIV-affected, 51% HIV-unexposed) aged 7-11years. CBCL was scored using CBCL Rating-to-Score software. A binary indicator was determined using the clinical threshold ≥ 65. We modelled mental disorders using logistic regression, including covariates associated with the mother, child, household, and parenting. Structural equation modelling techniques also derived continuous latent variables representing the underlying mental health and parent-relationship constructs. Prevalence of conduct disorders (11.8%) was high, regardless of HIV exposure, while HIV-affected children had increased odds of affective disorders. Maternal depression increased odds of externalising disorders; maternal anxiety was associated with affective and anxiety disorders. Mother-child relationship dysfunction increased odds of all disorders, including: affective [aOR = 5.1 (2.6-9.9)]; oppositional [aOR = 7.9 (4.0-15.5)]; conduct [aOR = 4.3 (2.6-7.2)] disorders. Food insecurity and male gender increased odds of somatic disorders; breastfeeding halved odds of conduct disorders. In the latent model, associations were substantially stronger for the mother-child relationship and externalising disorders (Oppositional 0.464 p < 0.001; Conduct 0.474 p = <0.001). Conduct disorders were high for all children regardless of HIV exposure. The mother-child relationship was strongly related to all child disorders, suggesting potential for concurrent interventions targeting child behaviours and the parent-child or mother-child relationship.

Changes in behavioral outcomes among children affected by HIV: Results of a randomized controlled trial in China.

This study assessed the effects of a multilevel intervention on HIV-affected children's negative behaviors. A total of 536 children aged 6-18 years from 475 HIV-affected families in Anhui, China, participated in the randomized controlled trial. A significant overall intervention effect on reducing negative behaviors was observed at 18-month follow-up, and the effect remained at 24-month follow-up. The intervention showed greater effects for children aged 13-18 years than those aged 6-12 years. Study findings suggest that a multilevel intervention approach could be beneficial for reducing negative behavior in HIV-affected children. Age-specific programs should be considered to maximize the intervention effects.

Hope for the Future But Fear the Risk of Stigma: Ethiopian Family Caregivers’ Lived Experience of Caring for Their HIV Positive Child Two Years After Starting Antiretroviral Treatment

ABSTRACTFamily caregivers are believed to be the primary source of support for HIV-affected children. There is limited evidence about practices of support for caregivers, to strengthen them and to enhance the welfare of HIV positive children, especially in African settings. Our aim was therefore to illuminate caregivers’ lived experiences of caring for a child in Ethiopia 2 years after the child was enrolled in antiretroviral therapy. Qualitative interviews with 18 family caregivers of 18 children were performed and analyzed using an inductive design with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The family caregivers’ lived experience was shown in two main themes comprising “lifelong medication gives hope for the future” and “support challenged by the fear of stigma.” The family caregivers experienced hope and dreams for the future as they saw their child as healthy and they had regained normality in life after the child’s diagnosis. The caregivers still feared the disclosure of the child’s diagnosis, which gave rise to conflicts with the child, the family, and society. Good quality support from the healthcare staff lightened their burdens. Further studies are recommended on the strategies of stigma reduction and developing need-specific modalities to support caregivers in the community.