Listening to the Voices of Children in Early Schooling in the South African Context of HIV/AIDS

This study explored how children in early schooling interpreted their social reality to construct vulnerable childhoods in an HIV/AIDS context. Ten males and ten females between the ages of eight and nine years from low-income families in KwaZulu-Natal participated in the study. In order to raise the voices of the children, a listening framework was created through participatory techniques. Focus group interviews, drawings, story telling and projection techniques were used in the study. The study found that children actively interpreted their social reality through engaging with circumstances that surrounded their lives in an HIV/AIDS context. Child activism is important to HIV/AIDS education.     

受艾滋病影响儿童的歧视知觉在歧视经历和心理健康之间的作用分析

本研究旨在考察中国农村地区受艾滋病影响儿童(包括双孤儿童、单孤儿童和非孤儿童)在经历了父母感染艾滋病、父母因为艾滋病丧亡后的歧视经历和歧视知觉状况,及其对心理健康的影响.采用问卷调查了1221名被试,测查了他们的歧视经历、歧视知觉、心理健康(抑郁、孤独、自尊).经过数据分析发现:(1)歧视经历和歧视知觉存在显著的年龄段和儿童类别的差异,12岁及以下的儿童得分显著高于13岁及以上的,双孤儿童得分显著高于单孤儿童和非孤儿童;抑郁、孤独和自尊存在显著的儿童类别差异,双孤儿童、单孤儿童差于非孤儿童;且孤独和自尊还存在显著的年龄段差异,12岁以下的儿童差于13岁以上的;(2)不同歧视经历和歧视知觉的儿童在抑郁、孤独和自尊上存在显著差异,均是歧视经历、歧视知觉多的儿童抑郁和孤独严重、自尊低;(3)歧视经历对抑郁、孤独和自尊都有显著的预测作用,歧视知觉在其中起到了部分中介作用.     

HIV/AIDS Awareness of In—School Adolescents in Nigeria: Implications for Adolescence Sexuality

This study investigated HIV/AIDS awareness of in-school adolescents in Nigeria to determine their risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. A total of 892 purposively selected adolescents (mean age = 16. 5 years; SD = 5. 2; males = 492; females = 400) participated in the study. The participants responded to the HIV/AIDS Awareness Inventory (HAAI). The questions on the survey included the following aspects: meaning of HIV/AIDS; prevalence; mode of transmission; consequences and prevention. Differences in gender, age, school location and father's educational background in understanding HIV risk were examined. A group means comparison procedure revealed a significant difference in HIV awareness by gender, age, school location and father's educational background. Female adolescents, the older adolescents, those living in urban centres and those whose fathers are literate had higher HIV/AIDS awareness than their counterparts from rural areas. Nigerian adolescents need education regarding HIV/AIDS awareness.     

Psychosocial Well-being of Children in HIV/AIDS-Affected Families in Southwest China: A Qualitative Study

We investigated the psychosocial well-being of children in HIV/AIDS-affected families in rural China from the child’s and caregiver’s perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among children living in HIV/AIDS-affected families (n = 16), their caregivers (n = 16) and key community informants (n = 5). Our findings showed that all of the children relied heavily on caregivers and peers to gain psychological support. Children’s psychosocial problems included fear, anxiety, grief, and loss of self-esteem and confidence. Stigma towards children existed, including isolation, ignorance and rejection. Our study illustrates that HIV/AIDS has impacted negatively on the psychosocial well-being of children. These findings can be used as preliminary data supporting more researches to profoundly explore the psychosocial impact of HIV/AIDS on children and appropriately indicate the need for interventions.     

Sex and the Right to HIV/AIDS Education in Early Childhood

This study explored how early childhood teachers (n=5) and young children (n=174) (age range 7 to 8 years; males = 81; females = 93) in two primary schools constructed and interpreted the right to HIV/AIDS education. Data were captured using individual interviews with teachers and group interviews with young children. Analysis of the data showed that teachers viewed young children's right to health information positively but did not consider the right to sexual information. Teachers operated within discourses which upheld the image of the child as innocent requiring protection from sexual knowledge. Children's perceptions of their rights to knowledge of sex in HIV/AIDS education showed ambiguity. Some accepted the right to know whilst others felt that knowledge about HIV/AIDS was inconsistent with childhood innocence.     

Finding Voice: The Photovoice Method of Data Collection in HIV and AIDS-Related Research

This study examined the efficacy of photovoice as a research technique to explore the lives of children and families living in the context of HIV and AIDS. Participants were volunteers at a Day Care and Support Centre (n=18), and members of a community support group consisting of People Living with AIDS (n=5). The findings revealed that the photovoice method is particularly useful for dealing with the ‘unspoken’ lived experience of children and families.     

Developing a model for online support group use,empowering processes and psychosocial outcomes for individuals living with HIV/AIDS

This study examined the mechanism through which online support group (OSG) participation may promote patient empowerment among 340 individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Results from structural equation modelling revealed that greater use of OSGs was associated with more frequent occurrence of the empowering processes as measured by receiving useful information, receiving social support, finding positive meaning and helping others. Receiving useful information and finding positive meaning were related to higher levels of adaptive coping and lower levels of maladaptive coping, while receiving social support and helping others were related to higher levels of self-care self-efficacy, which in turn was related to higher levels of adaptive coping, and lower levels of maladaptive coping. Finally, higher levels of maladaptive coping were related to poorer quality of life, while higher levels of adaptive coping were related to better quality of life. Results suggest that OSG participation may offer some benefits for those living with HIV/AIDS.     

Developing a model for online support group use, empowering processes and psychosocial outcomes for individuals living with HIV/AIDS

This study examined the mechanism through which online support group (OSG) participation may promote patient empowerment among 340 individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Results from structural equation modelling revealed that greater use of OSGs was associated with more frequent occurrence of the empowering processes as measured by receiving useful information, receiving social support, finding positive meaning and helping others. Receiving useful information and finding positive meaning were related to higher levels of adaptive coping and lower levels of maladaptive coping, while receiving social support and helping others were related to higher levels of self-care self-efficacy, which in turn was related to higher levels of adaptive coping, and lower levels of maladaptive coping. Finally, higher levels of maladaptive coping were related to poorer quality of life, while higher levels of adaptive coping were related to better quality of life. Results suggest that OSG participation may offer some benefits for those living with HIV/AIDS.     

Parents Living with HIV in China: Family Functioning and Quality of Life

In China, HIV shifts the lifestyle of not only parents living with HIV/AIDS, but also their children, partners, and extended families. We examined factors related to the quality of life of parents living with HIV and the relation between family functioning and individual quality of life. Interviews were conducted with a total of 116 parents living with HIV/AIDS. Analyses of variance, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the relation between family functioning and quality of life. We found a significant association between family functioning and individual quality of life for parents living with HIV. In particular, family sociability had a strong relationship with the quality of life of parents living with HIV. Parents living with HIV from families where both parents are HIV-positive reported a lower level of family sociability than those from families with only one HIV-positive parent. HIV disclosure, family sociability, and number of children per family were found to be significant predictors of overall quality of life for the population. Study findings underscore the importance of developing interventions that improve family functioning for people living with HIV/AIDS in China.     

Spiritual Wellness for Clients With HIV/AIDS: Review of Counseling Issues

The epidemic of HIV/AIDS has resulted in an increasing population of individuals in need of counseling services: persons living with AIDS, as well as family, friends, and caregivers. The relationship between HIV/AIDS clients' counseling and spiritual issues is demonstrated by a review of salient literature. Three broad themes are used: terminal illness issues such as post-death existence and existential meaning of life, religious disenfranchisement from society or families of origin, and multicultural spiritual and religious issues. Practical recommendations for counselors and research implications are included.     

Three educational and moral questions regarding AIDS among South African education students

Two objectives were explored: the extent to which undergraduates supported the admission to school of children with HIV, whether HIV sufferers were to blame for their illness, and AIDS was direct punishment from God. While 93 of 164 respondents did not think AIDS was punishment from God and 105 did not support exclusion of school children with AIDS, 75 and 49 held the opposite views, respectively. There was no conclusive support for whether HIV carriers were to blame for their disease: 70 responded yes, 75 no, and 12 I don't know.     

The Challenges of HIV/AIDS Counselling in Nigerian Secondary Schools: A Case Study of Kwara State

The study investigated the challenges of HIV/AIDS counselling in Nigerian secondary schools as expressed by school counsellors in Kwara state, Nigeria. The respondents comprised 132 purposively selected counsellors in Kwara state public secondary schools (Male=85; Female=47). Data were collected with the use of a survey instrument and the data were quantitatively analyzed. The study identified the challenges hindering effective implementation of HIV/AIDS counselling in Nigerian secondary schools as ignorance, non-existence of governmental policy on HIV/AIDS counselling in schools and negative attitudes of school administrators, students and teachers to HIV/AIDS. Geographical location and job status had significant influence on the respondents' views of the challenges facing HIV/AIDS counselling in Nigerian secondary schools. The Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) should enlighten Nigerians on the importance of HIV/AIDS counselling in schools.     

The Role of the Black Church in HIV Prevention: Exploring Barriers and Best Practices

Black people have the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the USA, and they are less likely to access quality physical and mental healthcare. To address these disparities as outlined in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, there is a need for culturally congruent, innovative approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention. The first multi‐denominational national study of Black faith leaders was conducted utilizing focus groups that were held in 11 US cities. The 265 participants were faith leaders who reported involvement in such prevention practices as sponsoring HIV/AIDS workshops, integrating HIV/AIDS messaging in the worship service, hosting HIV/AIDS screenings, distributing written materials about HIV/AIDS through the bulletin or flyers, pastoral counselling, advocating for policies that provide quality healthcare to the community and disseminating HIV/AIDS prevention messages through new media such as the Church website. These findings, including attention to barriers to engagement, provide insight into innovative practices that can be integrated into faith‐based HIV/AIDS prevention programming. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Children Affected by HIV in Rural China: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study

The current study was designed to examine the trend of depression among children affected by HIV (n = 1,221) in rural China over a period of 3 years and to explore baseline psychosocial factors that can predict depressive symptoms at 1- and 2-year follow-ups. Baseline depression score, trusting relationship with caregivers, perceived public stigma against children affected by HIV, and future expectation at baseline positively predicted the 1-year follow-up depression, while children’ self-report health status, self-esteem, and perceived social support negatively predicted depression at 1-year follow-up survey. Depression and self-report health status at baseline significantly predicted depression at the 2-year follow-up. The data in the current study suggested that depressive symptoms were chronic or recurring among some children affected by HIV/AIDS. The findings also underscore the importance of early identification, early intervention, and ongoing counseling for mental health problems among children affected by HIV/AIDS. Future psychological support programs need to target both mental health symptoms and resilient factors that will help these children to cope with adverse life events associated with HIV/AIDS.     

AIDS and pediatric HIV infection: the problem of the infected mother and her newborn

The number or pediatric AIDS cases in the US was around 2000 in 1990, and children under 13 accounted for about 2% of reported cases. Pediatric cases are increasing as the number of infected women increases. Such cases are concentrated in poor urban populations, aggravating the lack of resources of already overtaxed health services. Ethnic minorities are overrepresented among AIDS cases. In the US, 52% of AIDS cases in adult women are in blacks, 27% in non-Hispanic whites, and 20% in women of Hispanic origin. Among children under 13, 53% are in blacks, 25% in Hispanics, and 22% in whites. The majority of children with AIDS were 5 and were probably infected by vertical transmission. Over 80% were born to mothers with AIDS or at risk of HIV infection, 11% received transfusions of contaminated blood, and 5% received contaminated blood products. Through December 1989, 53% of white, 91% of black, and 85% of Hispanic children with AIDS were infected vertically by their mothers. In the US, over 1/2 of cases of vertical AIDS transmission are due to maternal IV drug abuse and 1/5 to mothers who have sexual relations with IV drug abusers. The rate of infection in children born to seropositive mothers has not been established. Estimates of rates of transmission range from 20% to 50%. The factors causing HIV transmission in 1/3 of infants and protecting the other 2/3 have not been identified. Transmission to the infant may occur during pregnancy or delivery or through breast feeding. There is no evidence that cesarean delivery can protect against infection. The risk of intrauterine infection is probably much greater than that of infection during delivery. Diagnosis of HIV infection in young infants is difficult. There are no physical characteristics distinguishing infected newborns, and laboratory diagnosis is unhelpful because maternal HIV antibodies cross the placental barrier to the fetus. There is as yet no vaccine or curative treatment for HIV infection. Prevention of pediatric HIV infection requires prevention of the infection and the disease in pregnant women. Primary prevention in women depends on their being adequately informed about risks and able to change risk behaviors. Secondary prevention is achieved through use of AZT, which slows the progression of the disease, and prevention or treatment of complications. There is no conclusive evidence as yet that pregnancy hastens the progression of maternal HIV infection. Seropositive mothers should avoid breast feeding if adequate substitute foods are available. The average age at appearance of symptoms in infected children is 8 months. Mortality is higher among children manifesting the disease in the 1st year, with a median survival of 38 months. Full information about HIV infection and voluntary and confidential screening should be available to all women contemplating pregnancy.     

Intentions to Care for Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS: A Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior

HIV/AIDS has added an unparalleled number of children to South Africa's orphan population. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used to investigate the decision-making processes of potential substitute caregivers of children orphaned by AIDS. Existing foster and adoptive parents ( n  = 175) completed a self-report postal survey. Of the sample, 76.0% reported willingness to care for an HIV-negative child and 62.2% an HIV-positive child. Analyses of the theory's components reveal contradictory and disappointing results. While the theory is most useful in conceptualizing the factors that bear on fostering and adoption, the current study suggests that the TPB is limited in its ability to address the complexity of decisions that attend fostering and adoption of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.     

Community-Based Collaboration in Support of Older Persons

This study describes the processes for community-based collaboration in support of the older person living in the world of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Secondary data from study from 333 older persons (> 60 years) and 28 leaders of community agencies of and for health and wellbeing were thematically analyzed. Findings suggest that older persons are resources in community partnership for ameliorating the impact of HIV and AIDS. This would be the case even as the older people may be living with HIV or AIDS.     

关注儿童艾滋病和艾滋孤儿

目前,我国艾滋病处于快速增长期,儿童艾滋病患者增长较快,艾滋孤儿亦逐渐增多.儿童艾滋病以母婴传播为主要途径,所以切断母婴垂直传播是遏制艾滋病向儿童传播的有效方法,应采取药物治疗、产科干预和人工喂养等综合措施.同时高度重视艾滋孤儿问题,采取措施预防出现下一代的艾滋孤儿,整个社会包括政府要加大对这些儿童的支持和关爱.     

Personality traits as predictors of intentions to seek online information about STDs and HIV/AIDS among junior and senior college students in Taiwan.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine how personality traits such as sensation- seeking and impulsive decision-making affect Taiwanese college students' intentions to seek online information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Five hundred thirty-five (n = 535) junior and senior college students in Taiwan were recruited and completed self-report questionnaires. This study found high sensation-seekers were more likely to seek information about STDs and HIV/AIDS on the Internet than low sensation-seekers. Impulsive decision-makers were less likely than rational decision-makers to seek information about STDs and HIV/AIDS on the Internet. These findings suggest that personality needs to be considered as an exploratory factor which potentially influences intentions to seek STD and HIV/AIDS information on the Internet among Taiwanese college students.     

The Impacts of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic and Socioeconomic Development on the Living Arrangements of Older Persons in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Country-Level Analysis

This study investigates whether socioeconomic development and the HIV/AIDS pandemic are associated with living arrangement patterns in older persons in 23 sub-Saharan African countries. Country-level aggregate data were taken from previous household surveys and information provided by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization. Results showed that 13.5% of older persons (aged 60 years or over) were living with grandchildren but not adult children (i.e., skipped generation households). Countries higher in HIV/AIDS prevalence had more skipped generation households, and also more older persons living with spouse only and fewer older persons living with other relatives. Countries with higher socioeconomic development had fewer older persons living with children younger than 25 years old and more living with spouse only or with other relatives and unrelated persons. The pandemic and socioeconomic development combine to accelerate the breakdown of the extended family structure so that older persons are less and less likely to reside with, and to receive support from, their children.