Children's voices: living with HIV.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Child Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Living with a chronic illness like HIV presents unique challenges for children.
• Understanding children's perspectives is crucial for effective care and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of children with pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
• To understand children's self-perception, understanding of HIV, and disclosure experiences.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative phenomenological study involving face-to-face interviews.
• Seven children aged 9-13 years living with HIV participated.
• Interviews were conducted in the children's homes, and themes were identified from transcriptions.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: positive self-perception, varied understanding of HIV, limited recall of disclosure, and awareness of privacy needs.
• Children's self-perception was not consistently focused on their chronic illness.
• Understanding of HIV and disclosure varied, influenced by age and developmental stage.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers, particularly nurses, should recognize the diverse self-perceptions of children with HIV.
• Memory and developmental changes significantly impact children's understanding of their diagnosis and disclosure.
• Caregiver and healthcare professional communication strategies should consider these developmental factors.