A Phenomenological Account of HIV Disclosure Experiences of Children and Adolescents from Northern and Southern Ghana

Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah, Inge Kroidl, Michael Hoelscher, Olena Ivanova and Jonathan Mensah Dapaah
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Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah: Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians University, 81377 Munich, Germany
Inge Kroidl: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
Michael Hoelscher: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
Olena Ivanova: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
Jonathan Mensah Dapaah: Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 00000 Kumasi, Ghana

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Disclosure of HIV status to infected children, though challenged by caregiver dilemma, remains central in achieving the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) global goal of 90/90/90. This study explores children’s HIV disclosure experiences across Northern and Southern Ghana. A qualitative interpretative phenomenological design facilitated the recruitment of 30 HIV positive disclosed children and adolescents aged 9–19 years in 12 antiretroviral treatment (ART) centers in Northern and Southern Ghana between January 2017 and June 2018. Data was collected via in-depth interviews. We used phenomenological analysis applying concepts and categories identification, patterns and interconnections searching, mapping, theme building and constant comparative technique to draw conclusions. Disclosure of HIV status to children occurred with little or no preparation. Caregivers intentionally or out of dilemma often prolonged or postponed disclosure to when children aged older. Illness severity and disease progression principally defined the need for disclosure. Children preference for early status disclosure averaged at age 10 was demonstrated despite the initial disclosure experience of shock and disappointment. There was improved medication adherence despite the challenge of limited knowledge about HIV transmission, financial difficulty and food insecurity. Context and culturally adapted pre- and post- disclosure guideline laced with social protection package is needed to support HIV positive children.

Keywords: HIV; AIDS; disclosure; children; adolescence; phenomenology; experiences; Africa; Ghana (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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