Pediatric HIV Status Disclosure and Care Strategies

Pediatric disclosure of HIV status is a critical component of comprehensive care that balances psychological well-being, treatment adherence and social support. As survival into adolescence improves through widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART), healthcare providers and caregivers face the challenge of conveying a life-long diagnosis to children whose cognitive and emotional maturity vary widely. Age-appropriate, staged disclosure models are endorsed, beginning with simple health explanations in middle childhood and progressing to full revelation by early adolescence. Effective disclosure strategies integrate caregiver education, structured counselling sessions and multidisciplinary teams—including nurses, social workers and psychologists—to foster a supportive environment. Beyond the act of disclosure, ongoing care strategies encompass adherence monitoring, peer-group engagement, stigma reduction and linkage to community resources. Tailored interventions consider cultural norms, family dynamics and resource availability, ensuring that each child’s developmental stage and psychosocial context are respected. This holistic approach has been shown to improve viral suppression, clinic attendance and overall quality of life among children living with HIV globally.

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Pediatric HIV Status Disclosure and Care Strategies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in pediatric hiv status disclosure and care strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Antiretroviral therapy (ART): Medication regimen that suppresses HIV replication to maintain immune function.

Disclosure: Structured process of informing a child of their HIV diagnosis in a developmentally appropriate manner.

Perinatally acquired HIV: HIV transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.

Viral suppression: Reduction of HIV viral load in the bloodstream to undetectable levels.

Multidisciplinary team: Collaborative group of healthcare professionals from different specialties delivering integrated care.

References

1. Adolescent experiences, perceptions, and preferences for the process of HIV status disclosure in Kenya. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
2. Perspectives and Practice of HIV Disclosure to Children and Adolescents by Health-Care Providers and Caregivers in sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Public Health (2016).
3. Support provided by outreach team leaders to caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans in the North-West province of South Africa. BMC Nursing (2024).