ABSTRACT
Background: Disclosure of HIV serostatus is essential for the care and eradication of HIV infection. The World Health Organization recommends disclosure to school-age children and younger children but this practice is commonly hindered by stigmatization and other presumed psychosocial effects of the disease. Objective: To identify limitations to the disclosure of serostatus in HIV-infected children, outcomes of disclosure as well as compare the outcomes of disclosure by either parents/caregiver only with the involvement of health care personnel. Methods: A questionnaire-based study of primary caregivers of children aged 6 years to 18 years with HIV infection who were enrolled at two government-owned tertiary institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria. The healthcare personnel directly involved in the care of these children also participated in the study. Results: A total of 190 primary caregivers participated in the study. In all, 29 health care personnel completely filled the questionnaires. Disclosure (partial and full) was recorded among 31.0%. Older children and children with single parents were more likely to know their HIV status. Similar positive and negative impacts of disclosure were observed irrespective of the individuals involved in the processes. In all, 62.1% of healthcare personnel have had training on disclosure. Conclusion: Disclosure rate in HIV-infected children was low. There is a need for more training of health personnel and education of caregivers on the benefits of disclosure as well as the introduction of effective measures to tackle the barriers to disclosure
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Disclosure , HIV Infections , HIV Seropositivity , Health Personnel , NigeriaABSTRACT
Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) has multisystemic manifestations and is associated with severe morbidity and high mortality. It commonly affects growth leading to wasting and stunting. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the influence of socioeconomic status on the nutritional status using anthropometric measurements and steady-state hemoglobin; of children with homozygous SCA; aged 1 year to 10 years in steady state at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 children with SCA and 100 age-; sex-; and social class-matched controls that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Social class was assessed using educational attainment and occupation of parents. Hemoglobin concentration was determined using the oxy-hemoglobin method. Results: This study demonstrated a significantly lower mean weight and weight-for-height in the SCA patients than those of controls (P 0.001). By contrast; this study did not demonstrate any statistical significant difference in the mean height and mean body mass index of SCA patients and controls (P 0.1). However; SCA patients had significantly lower values than controls in each of the social classes. Conclusion: Poor socioeconomic status has an adverse effect on the nutritional status and hemoglobin of SCA patients