Brief report: a qualitative analysis of discussions about HIV in families of parents with HIV.
OBJECTIVE
To explore communication about HIV prevention, risk behaviors, and transmission in families affected by HIV.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 parents with HIV, 27 children (9- to 17-years old), and 19 adult children (>or=18-years old) across the U.S. Coders reviewed transcripts, identified themes, and coded transcripts.


RESULTS
Youth felt uncomfortable discussing HIV with their parent who has HIV because they worried about upsetting and reminding the parent of his/her illness. Adult children reported learning about HIV prevention by watching how the illness affected their parents. Few siblings reported talking with one another about HIV because they worried about upsetting their brother/sister and about their sibling unintentionally disclosing the parent's illness to others.


CONCLUSIONS
Discussions between youth and their parent with HIV and their siblings vary, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
Corona
Rosalie
R
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA. racorona@vcu.edu
Cowgill
Burton O
BO
Bogart
Laura M
LM
Parra
Michelle T
MT
Ryan
Gery
G
Elliott
Marc N
MN
Park
Susan K
SK
Patch
Jennifer
J
Schuster
Mark A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012803:Sick Role; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult