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Submission Number: 116
Submission ID: 917
Submission UUID: 101948e0-4b2e-45a1-b33d-6a18449fdf63
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Wed, 04/30/2025 - 11:57
Completed: Wed, 04/30/2025 - 12:00
Changed: Sat, 05/24/2025 - 16:59
Remote IP address: 41.115.43.47
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
Presenters
Mr.
Myeni
Themba cyprian
Kwazulu-natal department of health
Themba is a registered social worker with 10+ years of practice both in public health and non-governmental sector providing HIV disclosure and adherence counselling support to children and adolescents living with HIV and their families. He has an extensive experience of working in a medical setting providing social work services, psychotherapy, conducting workshops and doing presentations on child’s HIV disclosure. His passion to improve pediatric HIV disclosure has resulted to him pursuing master’s degree in social work, investigating factors that hinder caregivers from disclosing HIV diagnosis to their children.
No
Abstract
Barriers affecting caregivers from disclosing HIV status to children living with HIV in uMzinyathi District, KwaZulu-Natal: Insights from semi structured interviews
THEME 2: Social Work and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SUB 2.2 Research and practice strategies pertaining to health, mental health and wellbeing including poverty eradication, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth.
Oral Presentation
BACKGROUND: The disclosure of HIV status to children living with HIV (CLHIV) poses a challenge due to several factors. Non-disclosure results in clinical and psychosocial challenges which threaten the child’s health and quality of life. Caregivers’ experiences of disclosure to their children are not fully understood. Hence, this study explored the barriers affecting caregivers from disclosing their children’s HIV status to them.
METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 20 caregivers of CLHIV who access ART at four public health clinics in uMzinyathi District, KwaZulu-Natal. All 20 caregivers were purposively sampled. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse themes.
RESULTS: Participants acknowledged the importance and benefits of disclosing to their CLHIV. Howbeit, they volunteered their barriers as, 1) a lack of disclosure skills and support, 2) fear of the outcomes of disclosure, 3) fear that their children will not keep the HIV diagnosis secret to themselves, 4) guilt and shame associated with their children’s HIV status, 5) absence of fathers in the disclosure process, and 6) stigma and discrimination associated with HIV positive status.
CONCLUSION: Intervention strategies that aim to address these barriers to foster improved paediatric HIV disclosure need to be developed and implemented. Caregivers need to be trained on all aspects of HIV including paediatric HIV disclosure. Social workers can assist with breaking these barriers and equipping caregivers with knowledge and skills to overcome these barriers and engage in well-meaning disclosure practices. Social workers play a key role in facilitating caregiver and care recipient support groups or online support to enhance adherence to ART, combat further transmission of HIV, improve health literacy, promote open communication about HIV, and reduce caregivers' disclosure challenges. Social workers can effectively advocate for the rights of CLHIV and ensure that disclosure is done properly.
METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 20 caregivers of CLHIV who access ART at four public health clinics in uMzinyathi District, KwaZulu-Natal. All 20 caregivers were purposively sampled. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse themes.
RESULTS: Participants acknowledged the importance and benefits of disclosing to their CLHIV. Howbeit, they volunteered their barriers as, 1) a lack of disclosure skills and support, 2) fear of the outcomes of disclosure, 3) fear that their children will not keep the HIV diagnosis secret to themselves, 4) guilt and shame associated with their children’s HIV status, 5) absence of fathers in the disclosure process, and 6) stigma and discrimination associated with HIV positive status.
CONCLUSION: Intervention strategies that aim to address these barriers to foster improved paediatric HIV disclosure need to be developed and implemented. Caregivers need to be trained on all aspects of HIV including paediatric HIV disclosure. Social workers can assist with breaking these barriers and equipping caregivers with knowledge and skills to overcome these barriers and engage in well-meaning disclosure practices. Social workers play a key role in facilitating caregiver and care recipient support groups or online support to enhance adherence to ART, combat further transmission of HIV, improve health literacy, promote open communication about HIV, and reduce caregivers' disclosure challenges. Social workers can effectively advocate for the rights of CLHIV and ensure that disclosure is done properly.
Reviewer ONE Feedback
Dr
Nontombi
Velelo
Yes
Empirical Research
Accepted
Reviewer TWO Feedback
Dr
Ilze
Slabbert
Yes
Empirical Research
Accepted