Growing up: Perspectives of children, families and service providers regarding the needs of older children with perinatally-acquired HIV

Abstract

Children with perinatally-acquired HIV are living into adolescence and adulthood. As this is a relatively new phenomenon, there is a paucity of research highlighting the complex issues that arise for these children. This qualitative case-study examines the needs of a select group of older children (9–16 years old) with perinatally-acquired HIV in the province of British Columbia, Canada through focus groups and interviews conducted with ten HIV-infected children, 11 family members and 11 service providers. The needs of this population are diverse, reflecting its heterogeneity. However, participants consistently highlighted issues of stigma, sexual health and mental health as major areas of current and future concern. Continued support, education and future planning in these areas are necessary for older HIV-infected children as they transition out of childhood.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge and give thanks to the many children, families and service providers who shared their time and experiences as part of the research process. This research was supported through studentships and included awards from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (Vancouver, BC), the Western Regional Training Centre for Health Services Research (University of British Columbia, Vancouver) and the Partners in Community Health Research Training Program (University of British Columbia, Vancouver).

Disclaimer: L. Sheckter, A. Alimenti and J. Forbes are clinical staff at the Oak Tree Clinic where participant recruitment and data collection took place for this study.

Notes

1. All names are pseudonyms.