Age at disclosure of HIV infection amongst children attending the Paediatric HIV care and treatment clinic of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, south eastern Nigeria.

Background: with easier access to life saving antiretroviral drugs, children with HIV/AIDS now have better life expectancy and informing them of their status has become of exceeding importance. Objectives: this study set to assess the age at which HIV infected children attending the Paediatric HIV care and treatment clinic of the Federal medical centre Owerri, were informed of their status. Methods: the study was cross sectional in nature and carried out over six months between February and July 2010. Parents/Care providers of HIV infected children were interviewed using a purpose created questionnaire. Information on age and other socio-demographic features of the patient and diagnosis disclosure status were obtained. Results: Sixty Parents / Care providers of HIV infected children were interviewed.10 (16.7%) children have had their status disclosed to them. 6(60%) had disclosure at age 11-13years, 3(30%) had disclosure at 8-10years and only 1(10%) child had diagnosis disclosed at less than 8years of age. The inability of the child to fully understand and comprehend the meaning of HIV infection was the commonest reason for non disclosure. Other reasons were the child's inability to keep the diagnosis secret and the belief that the information would depress the child. Conclusion: the diagnosis disclosure rate in our study was low and this could impact negatively on outcome. This is so because diagnosis disclosure has been shown to enhance adherence to treatment and coping strategies. Key words. HIV, Diagnosis, Disclosure, Outcome.

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