Disclosing HIV/AIDS to children: The paths families take to truthtelling

Abstract

Disclosing a diagnosis of HIV infection in the family can be a worrisome experience for both parents who disclose and children who are told. This paper explores family disclosure experiences from both adult and child perspectives. A multi-site study incorporating qualitative and quantitative methods provided opportunities for family members (54 children and 51 adult members from 44 Canadian families) to share their personal experiences and for researchers to gather additional survey information. Important findings include the influence of gender and parenting styles on family disclosure experiences. 'Trust' emerged as the major theme and core value upon which disclosure decisions rest for both parents and children. Disclosures to children take place within historical and social contexts that include current knowledge of HIV, adult belief systems, unique parent-child relationships, family dynamics, interactions with the health care system, and a family's place in society. These different domains, both independently and interdependently, and to family-specific degrees, influence family disclosure experiences.