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.