Disclosure of parental HIV infection to children: a systematic review of global literature.
This review examines the global empirical literature regarding disclosure of parental HIV infection to children. Thirty-eight articles published in English-language journals prior to 2011 were retrieved and reviewed regarding disclosure process, reasons for disclosure/non-disclosure and impacts of disclosure/non-disclosure. Disclosure rate was relatively low worldwide. The decision making of disclosure or non-disclosure was mainly affected by children's development level, stigma, consideration of children's benefits, and parenting practices. Unintentional and forced disclosures were common. Findings regarding the impacts of disclosure/non-disclosure were mixed but disclosure tended to have long-term positive impacts on the well-being of children, parents and family in general. This review underscores the importance of developing evidence-informed developmentally and culturally appropriate interventions to assist HIV-positive parents to disclose their HIV status to children, particularly in low-resource settings.
Prevention Research Center, Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Hutzel Building, Suite W534, 4707 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. sqiao@med.wayne.edu
Shan
S
Qiao
Xiaoming
X
Li
Bonita
B
Stanton
D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014342:Truth Disclosure