What am I 'living' with? Growing up with HIV in Uganda and Zimbabwe

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious diseases
• Qualitative health research
• Global child health

Background:

• Paediatric HIV treatment availability is increasing globally, leading to an aging cohort of perinatally infected children.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the lived experiences of children growing up with HIV in resource-constrained environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the experiences of children living with HIV on treatment in Uganda and Zimbabwe.
• To explore how the experience of HIV is shaped by children, carers, healthcare workers, and societal discourses.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, qualitative study involving HIV-positive children, their caregivers, and healthcare workers.
• Data collected from four clinics in Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Main Results:

• Children's experiences of HIV are predominantly framed by a 'sickness' narrative, emphasizing medicalized talk and past illnesses.
• This narrative reinforces a sense of vulnerability and risk, overshadowing resilient health.
• Children face challenges in articulating positive health narratives due to uncertainty about their future.

Conclusions:

• The experience of growing up with HIV in resource-limited settings is complex, marked by a tension between medical advancements and persistent vulnerability.
• Dominant illness narratives limit children's ability to express their health and well-being.
• Further research is needed to address the uncertainties surrounding the long-term future for this population.