HIV-related stigma and health-related quality of life among children living with HIV in Sweden

ABSTRACT

The relationship between HIV-related stigma and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among children living with HIV infection is unknown. The objectives of this study were to describe HIV-related stigma and HRQoL among children with perinatal HIV living in Sweden, and to investigate the relationship between these two factors in the same infection group. In a cross-sectional nationwide survey, HIV-related stigma was measured with the 8-item HIV Stigma Scale for Children. HRQoL was measured with the 37-item DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Module. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between HIV-related stigma and HRQoL. Fifty-eight children participated, age 9–18 years (mean = 13.9). The HIV stigma general scale showed a mean score of 17.6 (SD = 5.0; possible range 8–32). DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Module general scale showed a mean score of 80.7 (SD = 14.1; possible range 0–100). HIV-related stigma was negatively associated with HRQoL (standardized β = −0.790, p = .017). The results indicate that children's concerns related to disclosure of their HIV infection seem to be common (i.e. 75% agreed) which, together with the negative association between ratings of HIV-relatively stigma and HRQoL, might indicate that disclosure concerns would be a relevant target for interventions to decrease HIV-related stigma and increase HRQoL.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• HIV
• stigma
• health-related quality of life

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank all of the participants and healthcare professionals who made this study possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was co-funded by the Doctoral School of Health Care Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, the Strategic Research Program in Care Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and the Kempe-Carlgrenska Foundation.