Parental attitudes regarding the integration of children living with HIV/AIDS into public schools in Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

In some areas of Vietnam, stigmatisation of HIV-infected children by parents in the community represents a major barrier to integration of such youth into public schools. To investigate parental perceptions of integration, researchers interviewed a total of 60 parents from one rural and one urban school district within Hanoi, Vietnam. Resistance to integration stemmed largely from misinformation about disease transmission and worry about protecting HIV-negative children. Educational campaigns targeted at parents, combined with higher levels of trust in the preparedness of teachers to handle situations involving HIV-positive children, could decrease current stigma and opposition to integration into public primary schools.

Keywords::

• HIV/AIDS
• stigma
• public schools
• Vietnam
• parents

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Victoria L. Boggiano

Victoria Boggiano is a medical student at the Stanford School of Medicine. Before beginning medical school, she served as both a Lombard and a Fogarty research fellow in Vietnam and an AmeriCorps Community HealthCorps volunteer in Maryland.

Lindsay Katona

Lindsay Katona received her Masters in Public Health from Columbia University in 2012 and is currently a medical student. She has worked on medicals simulation, technology, and information management projects for Mayflower Strategy Group for the past four years, and is currently working on a project in Vietnam to improve disease surveillance efforts using text messaging.

Meghan R. Longacre

Meghan R. Longacre, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and a Principal Investigator at the Hood Center for Children and Families.

Michael L. Beach

Michael Beach, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Anesthesiology, of Pediatrics, and of Community and Family Medicine in Biostatistics. He is a pediatric anesthesiologist and serves as a statistical consultant.

Joseph M. Rosen

Joseph Rosen, MD, is a practicing plastic surgeon, a full Professor of Surgery and Radiology and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Engineering, with over 30 years of experience. His interests are in technology and its application to solving medical and surgical problems. His research, teaching and clinical work all involve designing and employing novel technology to improve medical care and the lives of patients in both civilian and military arenas.