AEGiS-06IAC: Follow-up study of a support group for parents and caretakers of children with HIV infection.

6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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Follow-up study of a support group for parents and caretakers of children with HIV infection.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:328 (abstract no. Th.D.808)
Aiges J, Hopkins S, Co M, Kaplan E, Pahwa S; Department of Social Work and Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University, Medical College, Manhasset, New York, USA

OBJECTIVE: To perform a follow-up study of the first support group in Long Island, New York for parents and caretakers of children with HIV infection.

METHOD: A support group, consisting of parents and caretakers of HIV-infected children, was evaluated over a three year period.

RESULTS: Major positive connections and coping skills were solidified among members of the group. This amplification of mutual support transcended the diverse socioeconomic, ethnic and family structural backgrounds of the members, which included biologic parents (both HIV-infected and uninfected), grandparents and foster parents. The self-supportive aspect of the group intensified as members empowered themselves by reaching out to new members and by engaging in political and social action on a local, regional and national level. Furthermore, greater trust and intimacy developed among members, as they personally shared ways of coping with such issues as disclosure of the diagnosis to family and the community, uncertainty regarding medically-related decisions, and fears of their children's imminent deterioration. Parents enriched and widened their support system by participating in a social function and reaching out to parents of severely ill hospitalized children as well as to bereaved parents.

CONCLUSION: Despite the multiple social complexities inherent in dealing with a disease such as HIV infection, members of a support group comprised of diverse individuals devised constructive means of amplifying positive connections within the group. Further study is needed to determine the ability of the group to sustain itself, faced with the potential of multiple deaths of adults and children within families.

Keywords: AEGIS, Self-Help Groups, HIV Infections, Family, Adaptation, Psychological, Health Services Needs and Demand, Family Health, Residence Characteristics, Child Welfare, Child Rearing, New York, Child, Human, Adult, ICA6KWDaegis,self-helpgroups,hivinfections,family,adaptation,psychological,healthservicesneedsanddemand,familyhealth,residencecharacteristics,childwelfare,childrearing,newyork,child,human,adult,ica6

900620
ThD808

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.