Proxemic communication between HIV-infected mother-child pairs

Proxemic communication (behaviours and relations of human interaction) offered by the mother in an HIV-infected mother-child pair during infancy was analysed to determine which proxemic factors promote the exchange of affection. This study, conducted in an experimental laboratory in 2007, included mother-child pairs in which the mother was HIV-positive and the children, under 6 months of age, were born exposed to the virus. Video recordings of the mother-child interaction were analysed according to proxemic factors. Of the 364 interactions recorded for analysis of proxemic communication between the mother-child pair, the most significant proxemic factors were axis, contact behavior, visual code, and tone of voice. The mothers developed communicative strategies such as closer proximity, touch, vocalisation, and smiling to promote the exchange of affection when engaging in maternal care.