Behavioral problems of HIV infected children / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To understand the behavioral problems of children infected with HIV, and to provide reference for further psychological intervention.@*Methods@#The survey was conducted from January to December 2017. A total of 256 HIV-infected 10-16 years old school-aged children who were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention were invited to participate. Another 256 children without HIV infection who were matched with sex and age were selected as the control group. Achenbach Children’s Behavior Scale was used to conduct psychological questionnaires in the two groups of children.@*Results@#Activity, social competence, and learning ability in the study group scored lower than control group (P<0.05). In children with HIV infection group, score of social competence in boys and girls aged 10-11 years were (14.35±3.96) (15.26±5.00), respectively, and was (14.21±4.64) and (14.57±5.50) in boys and girls aged 12-16 years was significantly lower than age and sex-matched control group (19.38±6.77 and 18.09±5.16 in boys and girls aged 10-11 years, 17.26±6.88 and 17.84±6.76 in boys and girls aged 12-16 years) (P<0.05). The total detection rate of behavioral problems in the study group (13% and 10% in boys and girls aged 10-11 years, 17% and 13% in boys and girls aged 12-16 years) was significantly higher than that in the control group (5% and 3% in boys and girls aged 10-11 years, both 4% in boys and girls aged 12-16 years) (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Behavioral problems in HIV-infected children are prevalent, which worth more attention to carry out psychological intervention among this vulnerable population.