HIV POSITIVE STATUS DISCLOSURE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV AT HAWASSA HEALTH FACILITIES, SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Many children living with Human Immuno Virus are surviving into adolescence as a result of increased access to antiretroviral therapy. Regardless of the recommendation made by World Health Organization, disclosure of Human Immuno Virus positive status of children is low, especially in Sub Sahara Africa where the majority of infected children’s lives. However, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of Human ImmunoVirus-positive status disclosure to infected children and associated factors among caregivers of infected children. Objective: To assess Human Immuno Virus -positive status disclosure and associated factors among children in Hawassa Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia from May 25, 2021 to July 20, 2021. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 355 caregivers of children who had been on follow up in pediatric Anti-Retroviral Therapy and care center at Hawassa governmental health facilities. Data were obtained through face-to-face interview and record reviews. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and then exported into Statistical Package for Social Science window version 20 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the association between independent variables and the outcome variable as appropriate. The degree of association between independent and dependent variables were assessed using adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. P-value <0.05 was considered for statistical significance. Result: A total of 355 caregivers of children living with Human Immuno Virus (6–15 years) participated in the study. Only 132(37.2%) children knew their HIV status. Being a younger age [AOR=0.524, 95%CI:0.280-0.980], born to families who didn’t knew someone who did disclosure [AOR= 0.277,95%CI:0.158-0.485], born to family attended primary school [AOR=0.455,95%CI:0.232-0.892], and being on Anti Retiroval Therapy for less than 5years [AOR=0.470 ,95 CI:0.276-0.800] had significant association with Human Immuno Virus- positive status disclosure as compared to their counterpart. Conclusion: This study concludes that the magnitude of Human Immuno Virus-positive serostatus disclosure to infected children is low. This implies that high magnitude of non-disclosure results in poor Anti-Retroviral Therapy adherence and high risk of Human Immuno Virus transmission. having a younger child with Human Immuno Virus, a short period of Anti-Retroviral Therapy follow-up and caregiver lower educational level and born to families who didn’t knew someone who did disclosure were significantly associated with Human Immuno Virus-positive status disclosure to infected children.