title: HIV-related stigma and health-related quality of life among children living with HIV in Sweden.
abstract: The relationship between HIV-related stigma and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among children living with HIV infection is unknown. The objectives of this study were to describe HIV-related stigma and HRQoL among children with perinatal HIV living in Sweden, and to investigate the relationship between these two factors in the same infection group. In a cross-sectional nationwide survey, HIV-related stigma was measured with the 8-item HIV Stigma Scale for Children. HRQoL was measured with the 37-item DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Module. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between HIV-related stigma and HRQoL. Fifty-eight children participated, age 9-18 years (mean = 13.9). The HIV stigma general scale showed a mean score of 17.6 (SD = 5.0; possible range 8-32). DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Module general scale showed a mean score of 80.7 (SD = 14.1; possible range 0-100). HIV-related stigma was negatively associated with HRQoL (standardized β = -0.790, p = .017). The results indicate that children's concerns related to disclosure of their HIV infection seem to be common (i.e. 75% agreed) which, together with the negative association between ratings of HIV-relatively stigma and HRQoL, might indicate that disclosure concerns would be a relevant target for interventions to decrease HIV-related stigma and increase HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden.|b Karolinska University Hospital, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Lise-Lott
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Rydström
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden.|c Department of Clinical Sciences , Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiklander
authors.affiliation: b Karolinska University Hospital, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.|e Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Navér
authors.affiliation: b Karolinska University Hospital, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.|d Department of Women's and Children's Health , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Britt-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ygge
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden.|f Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.|g Department of Infectious Diseases , Karolinska University Hospital , Huddinge , Sweden.|h School of Health Sciences , City University London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Lars E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D057545:Social Stigma; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: Children; HIV; health-related quality of life; stigma