title: Evidence of impact: health, psychological and social effects of adult HIV on children.
abstract: There is a growing evidence base on the immediate and short-term effects of adult HIV on children. We provide an overview of this literature, highlighting the multiple risks and resultant negative consequences stemming from adult HIV infection on the children they care for on an individual and family basis. We trace these consequences from their origin in the health and wellbeing of adults on whom children depend, through multiple pathways to negative impacts for children. As effective treatment reduces vertical transmission, the needs of affected children will predominate. Pathways include exposure to HIV in utero, poor caregiver mental or physical health, the impact of illness, stigma and increased poverty. We summarize the evidence of negative consequences, including those affecting health, cognitive development, education, child mental health, exposure to abuse and adolescent risk behaviour, including sexual risk behaviour, which has obvious implications for HIV-prevention efforts. We also highlight the evidence of positive outcomes, despite adversity, considering the importance of recognizing and supporting the development of resilience. This study is the first in a series of three commissioned by President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)/United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the summary provided here was used to inform a second study which seeks to identify insights from the broader child development field which will help us predict what long-term negative consequences children affected by HIV and AIDS are likely to experience. The third study discusses the design of a model to estimate these consequences. Although comprehensive, the review is often hampered by poor-quality research, inadequate design, small sample sizes and single studies in some areas.
authors.affiliation: aInfection & Population Health, University College London, London, UK bDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, Oxford University, Oxford, UK and Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, SA cDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA dManagement Sciences for Health, Washington, DC, USA eHIV, AIDS, STIs and TB, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa fHuman and Social Development Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sherr
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Cluver
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Betancourt
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kellerman
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desmond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008603:Mental Health; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D014481:United States