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Understanding HIV disclosure experiences in adolescents living with HIV in Abidjan is crucial. Findings highlight the importance of family support and preparation for disclosure, alongside peer support, to improve coping strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric HIV care
- Adolescent health
- Qualitative research
Background:
- Explores HIV disclosure experiences among adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
- Focuses on individuals within pediatric HIV care structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand the conditions and consequences of HIV disclosure for adolescents and young adults.
- To gather recommendations for improving disclosure processes from the participants' perspectives.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 30 adolescents and young adults (ages 13-21) living with HIV.
- Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data.
Main Results:
- Identified three HIV disclosure trajectories: acceptance without crisis, crisis before disclosure, and crisis after disclosure.
- Family context and medical care significantly impact all trajectories.
- Emphasized the importance of preparing for disclosure, involving family, and providing post-disclosure follow-up.
- Highlighted the role of peers, particularly those also living with HIV, as a key resource.
Conclusions:
- Contributes to developing context-specific intervention strategies for adolescents living with HIV in Ivory Coast.
- Aims to improve the future well-being and health outcomes for this population.
Introduction:
This qualitative study explores the experience of HIV-disclosure among adolescents living with HIV acquired during the perinatal period, followed in pediatric HIV care structures in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Purpose Of Research:
Thirty adolescents and young adults living with HIV, ages 13 to 21, participated in a semi-structured interview about the conditions and consequences of the disclosure and asked for recommendations they would give. The interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure.
Results:
We identified three types of illness and coping trajectories related to the HIV-disclosure : the trajectory of acceptance without prior crisis, the trajectory including a crisis before the HIV-disclosure, and the trajectory of crisis occurring after the disclosure. All three trajectories are impacted by the family context and the modalities of medical care. The results of the study show the importance of preparing the HIV-disclosure while including family members in an appropriate setting and confirm the importance of post-announcement follow-up. Peers appear to be an important resource for these young people, especially when they are adolescents living with HIV themselves and involved in the health care plan.
Conclusions:
This study contributes to the development of intervention strategies to improve the future of adolescents living with HIV, adapted to the local context of Ivory Coast.