Factors Associated with Parents' Decision to Disclose Their HIV Diagnosis to Their Children

Parents report that trying to decide whether or not to disclose their HIV diagnosis to their children is as emotionally charged as learning of the diagnosis itself. As part of a larger study, interviews were conducted with 17 parent-child dyads recruited from patients being treated at the National Cancer Institute to understand the factors that affect the process of disclosure of a parent's HIV diagnosis and its consequences. Parents and HIV-infected children were also interviewed and were administered several standardized measures for collecting information on parental depression, family environment, and social support satisfaction. The factors associated with a parent's decision to disclose his or her diagnosis to the children, and implications for clinical practice and future research, are discussed.