Communication between HIV-infected children and their caregivers about HIV medicines: a cross-sectional study in Jinja district, Uganda

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dc.contributor.authorKajubi, Phoebe
dc.contributor.authorWhyte, Susan
dc.contributor.authorMuhumuza, Simon
dc.contributor.authorKyaddondo, David
dc.contributor.authorKatahoire, Anne R.
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-16T06:08:01Z
dc.date.available2018-05-16T06:08:01Z
dc.date.issued2014-01-17
dc.descriptionThis study sought to describe communication about medicine for HIV in quantitative terms from the perspectives of both children and caregivers. Thereafter, it established the factors associated with this communication and with children’s knowledge about their HIV medicines.en_US
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Knowledge of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among children with HIV depends on open communication with them about their health and medicines. Guidelines assign responsibility for communication to children’s home caregivers. Other research suggests that communication is poor and knowledge about ART is low among children on treatment in low-income countries. This study sought to describe communication about medicine for HIV in quantitative terms from the perspectives of both children and caregivers. Thereafter, it established the factors associated with this communication and with children’s knowledge about their HIV medicines. Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 394 children with HIV on treatment and their caregivers at nine health facilities in Jinja District, Uganda.We assessed reported frequency and content of communication regarding their medicines as well as knowledge of what the medicines were for. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with communication patterns and children’s knowledge of HIV medicines. Results: Although 79.6% of the caregivers reported that they explained to the children about the medicines, only half (50.8%) of the children said they knew that they were taking medicines for HIV. Older children aged 15-17 years were less likely to communicate with a caregiver about the HIV medicines in the preceding month (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.7, p-0.002). Children aged 11-14 years (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.8-13.7, pB0.001) and 15-17 years (OR 12.6, 95% CI 4.6-34.3, pB0.001) were more likely to know they were taking medicines for HIV compared to the younger ones. The least common reported topic of discussion between children and caregivers was ‘‘what the medicines are for’’ while ‘‘the time to take medicines’’ was by far the most mentioned by children. Conclusions: Communication about, and knowledge of, HIV medicines among children with HIV is low. Young age (less than 15 years) was associated with more frequent communication. Caregivers should be supported to communicate diagnosis and treatment to children with HIV. Age-sensitive guidelines about the nature and content of communication should be developed.en_US
dc.identifier.citationKajubi, Phoebe, Whyte, Susan, Muhumuza, Simon, Kyaddondo, David and Katahoire, Anne R., 2014. Communication between HIV-infected children and their caregivers about HIV medicines: a cross-sectional study in Jinja district, Uganda.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/223
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherWiley Online Libraryen_US
dc.subjectChildren with HIVen_US
dc.subjectAntiretroviral therapyen_US
dc.subjectHIV disclosureen_US
dc.subjectTherapeutic communicationen_US
dc.subjectUgandaen_US
dc.titleCommunication between HIV-infected children and their caregivers about HIV medicines: a cross-sectional study in Jinja district, Ugandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in the Journal of the international AIDS Society, Vol.17, Issue 1, January/2014, https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.17.1.19012; published by Wiley Online Library All rights reserved.
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