‘I don’t even know how to start that kind of conversation’: HIV communication between mothers and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV

Young people with perinatally acquired HIV are now surviving into late adolescence and adulthood. We explored HIV communication within mother/adolescent dyads following naming of the adolescents’ HIV. Five adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV (14–16 years) and their biological mothers were inte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health psychology 2020-09, Vol.25 (10-11), p.1341-1354
Main Authors: Gibbs, Caroline, Melvin, Diane, Foster, Caroline, Evangeli, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired
Adolescent
Adolescents
Adult
Communication
Cultural sensitivity
Emotions
Female
HIV
HIV Infections - psychology
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Mothers
Mothers - psychology
Naming
Parent-Child Relations
Sexual Behavior
Teenagers
Youth
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Summary:Young people with perinatally acquired HIV are now surviving into late adolescence and adulthood. We explored HIV communication within mother/adolescent dyads following naming of the adolescents’ HIV. Five adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV (14–16 years) and their biological mothers were interviewed separately. HIV communication between mothers and children was rare. Discussion most commonly related to biomedical aspects of HIV. Onward HIV disclosure was discouraged by mothers, which often contrasted with adolescents’ beliefs. Discussing emotional and sexual aspects of HIV was mutually avoided. Culturally sensitive support and guidance should be offered to families about discussing HIV, considering potentially differing perspectives.
ISSN:1359-1053
1461-7277
DOI:10.1177/1359105318755544