Most children born with HIV are maturing into adolescence due to the accessibility of
medical support, specifically the availability of antiretroviral drugs. During adolescence,
children are faced with critical adolescent developmental tasks in that they develop
physically, cognitively and psychosocially, including assuming independence. As the
adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV mature, their care-givers start disclosing the
adolescents’ HIV status to them. Attaining the knowledge of living with HIV is encompassed
with worries of how to manage the illness as well as other social ills such as taking care of
sick loved ones and dealing with losses of loved ones. It is also during this stage of
development that adolescents living with HIV begin to form intimate relationships, thus
issues of self-disclosing their status become a concern.
The aim of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of adolescents perinatally
infected with HIV regarding the self-disclosure of their status to others. Following this, it was
hoped that the study would come to conclusions and make recommendations regarding the
wellness of and support for adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV. A qualitative
descriptive research approach with an interpretive paradigm was used to explore and describe
the perceptions of the adolescents. A multiple case study design was suitable to explore and
describe the perceptions of participants as they see it. Ethical approval for the study was
obtained from the relevant body. A sample of 10 adolescents perinatally infected with HIV,
whose status had been disclosed to them and were receiving clinical care and psychosocial
support at a local clinic in Port Elizabeth, were selected through purposive sampling. Consent
to undertake the study was provided by the head of the clinic in Port Elizabeth as well as by
the adolescents’ caregivers. Assent to partake in the study was also provided by the
participants. A deeper understanding of participants perceptions was explored through
utilising multiple sources of data collection methods which included reflective journals and
semi-structured interviews. Multiple data collection methods were used in order to collect
rich data and for crystallisation of the data to take place. After the data was analysed themes
were identified and described leading to the findings of the study.
The findings of the study confirmed the perceptions of adolescents living with perinatally
acquired HIV regarding the self-disclosure of their status. Adolescents perinatally infected
with HIV perceive certain conditions as conducive to self-disclose their status against other
conditions that were perceived to be unfavourable for the self-disclosure of their HIV status. Conditions permitting self-disclosure included the availability of trusting relationships with
people who understand them as well as the need for support which subsequently highlights
the benefits of self-disclosure. Benefits included and are not limited to clinical support from
healthcare professionals and an understanding from teachers when they are absent from
school during their monthly clinical visits. Although adolescents see the benefits of selfdisclosing
their status they are however aware of the possible negative effects to self-disclose
their status such as stigmatisation and discrimination manifested through isolation from peers
and through moral judgement and rejection from the community. Peers living with HIV are
perceived to be the closest people providing them with trusting and open relationships that
foster self-disclosure. Adolescents also perceived adulthood as a phase were self-disclosing
their HIV status could be possible with the belief that they would be more mature when they
are adults.
Recommendations are made for healthcare professionals and policy makers to formulate and
implement guidelines on supporting adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV
regarding the self-disclosure of their status. Providing measures of support for adolescents
living with perinatally acquired HIV in their different ecological systems could widen the
choice of to whom and when to self-disclose their HIV status. / M (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/16256 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Mpofu, Caroline |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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