HIV, with Dr. Watiti
May 08, 2011
HIV care in adolescents is a big challenge. It needs to be handled using inter-displinary teams of people with training in different disciplines to deliver holistic care. It is possible that the way this boy’s HIV status was disclosed to him was traumatic, and this has made him go into depression.
Dear Doctor,
My teenage nephew refused to take his ARVs after we disclosed to him that he was born with HIV. He is depressed and has refused to go to school. What should we do?
Stella
Dear Stella,
HIV care in adolescents is a big challenge. It needs to be handled using inter-displinary teams of people with training in different disciplines to deliver holistic care. It is possible that the way this boy’s HIV status was disclosed to him was traumatic, and this has made him go into depression.
Disclosure among adolescents needs to be done at the right time for the child by the care giver, with support from a trained HIV and AIDS counsellor.
We now need trained child counsellors, who are able to communicate with children about difficult issues like HIV, to work together with other health professionals to care for these children.
All HIV and AIDS service-giving facilities caring for children living with HIV need to invest in training and employing child counsellors to meet this ever growing need because now with the advent of ARVs, many children born with or infected with HIV in infancy are going to grow up into adolescents and adults.
As they grow, they need to be supported and helped to cope with the challenge of living with HIV all their lives. This can be frightening, but with good care and social support from family, friends and the community, they can grow up into useful and productive adults.
That is why it is good practice to work together as clinicians, counsellors, social workers, nutritionists, spiritual care givers plus parents or guardians; in order to care for the person since HIV affects every aspect of one’s life.
Many times, children living with HIV feel there is no future for them, hence the loss of interest in studies. They need to be encouraged that with good care, there is a future for all children, including those living with HIV.
My teenage nephew refused to take his ARVs after we disclosed to him that he was born with HIV. He is depressed and has refused to go to school. What should we do?
Stella
Dear Stella,
HIV care in adolescents is a big challenge. It needs to be handled using inter-displinary teams of people with training in different disciplines to deliver holistic care. It is possible that the way this boy’s HIV status was disclosed to him was traumatic, and this has made him go into depression.
Disclosure among adolescents needs to be done at the right time for the child by the care giver, with support from a trained HIV and AIDS counsellor.
We now need trained child counsellors, who are able to communicate with children about difficult issues like HIV, to work together with other health professionals to care for these children.
All HIV and AIDS service-giving facilities caring for children living with HIV need to invest in training and employing child counsellors to meet this ever growing need because now with the advent of ARVs, many children born with or infected with HIV in infancy are going to grow up into adolescents and adults.
As they grow, they need to be supported and helped to cope with the challenge of living with HIV all their lives. This can be frightening, but with good care and social support from family, friends and the community, they can grow up into useful and productive adults.
That is why it is good practice to work together as clinicians, counsellors, social workers, nutritionists, spiritual care givers plus parents or guardians; in order to care for the person since HIV affects every aspect of one’s life.
Many times, children living with HIV feel there is no future for them, hence the loss of interest in studies. They need to be encouraged that with good care, there is a future for all children, including those living with HIV.