Abstract:
Introduction:Disclosure of children HIV status to HIV infected children by caregivers or parentsare being important medication adherence, prognosis of illness, improving restoration of Immunity and Psych-social well-being of coping skills. Disclosure is a process and not an event that takes time and constant communication in an age-appropriate manner Human Immunodeficiency Virus- infected children live longer with the introduction of antiretroviral drugs. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess disclosure of children HIV status to HIV infected children by caregivers or parents and associated factors inDessie Referral Hospital North East, Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 HIV infected Children caregivers or parents at Dessie Referral Hospital from March to May 2015; systematic random sampling technique was used to select HIV-infected children ages 5–14 years attending at ART clinic. Data were collected from questionnaires administered by clinicians to their caregivers, supplemented with chart review. Descriptive statistics and disclosure prevalence were calculated. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between disclosure and the independent variables AOR with 95% CI was computed.. Results: Prevalence of disclosure was 32.1 %( 95%CI: 27% - 38%), mean age of the children was 10.44 (± 2.7) years, the mean age of Disclosure was 10.1(±1.9)years and 53.1% were Male. In multivariate regression, younger age (OR=0.025, 95%CI:0.005 –0.119), children Not started education (OR= 0.182, 95%CI: 0.42– 0.798) , Non-biological caregivers (OR=4.04,(95%CI:1.573 , 10.374) , caregiver-reported Adherent (OR 6.939, 95%CI 3.122 – 15.422) and < 350 cell/mm3 /CD4(OR = 3.221:95%CI:1.406 – 7.175) were with HIV disclosure status. Conclusions and recommendation:The Prevalence of HIV status disclosure among children were found to be low which has been associated with their Age of child, Educational status of childs,CD4 count, Non-biological parents and Adherence. There should be regular and conceptual way of disclosure to children
