AEGiS-06IAC: Social characteristics, family behaviour and children psycho- motor development on HIV families.

6th International AIDS Conference

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

Social characteristics, family behaviour and children psycho- motor development on HIV families.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:329 (abstract no. Th.D.814)
Canosa CA, Picazo A, Jaime E, Herrero MA, Lono F, Canosa C; Department of Pediatrics. La Fe Childrens Hospital, Valencia, Spain

OBJECTIVE: To determine long term effect of HIV infection on social characteristics, family behaviour and children's psychomotor development.

METHOD: From 1986-1989 120 HIV+ newborns (NB) were identified at LA FE Dpt. of Pediatrics. A prospective study utilizing an "ad hoc" instrument by a team of pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers is in progress to study the social impact and behavioural changes of HIV infection in families and children.

RESULTS: Mother's age was 22.5 +/- 5.7 years, 49% were married, 19 were single and 33% cohabiting (6 months), 48% had only primary education, 92% were intravenous drug users (IVDU), 56% since 15 years of age. Needle sharing occurred in 88% and unwanted pregnancy in 58% of cases. Once pregnancy was recognized, 65% of mothers willingly accepted it. 76% of mothers knew their HIV infection at the delivery time, 10% during and 14% before pregnancy. NB birth weight was 2.733 +/- 472 g. Prematurity occurred in 32% of NB's and low birth weight in 29.8%. Child custody with parents occurred in 45% of cases, 10% was mother's responsibility, 23% with grandparents, 6% adoption and 16% were abandoned and placed in legal custody. Language, conceptualization and memory were different from a control group. 62% of the families believe that HIV infection will not allow the child to survive. Social discrimination was reported in 77% of families.

CONCLUSIONS: Long term psychosocial impact of HIV infection in children is unknown. Family characteristics, peculiar socio-cultural environment, negative attitudes of society and the impact of the HIV infection are responsible for behaviour alteration and impairment of mental development in HIV infected children.

Keywords: AEGIS, Family, HIV Infections, Child Development, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Adoption, Child Custody, Mothers, Family Characteristics, Needle Sharing, Child Care, Child Rearing, Social Behavior, Prospective Studies, Child, Human, Infant, Newborn, Female, Pregnancy, ICA6

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ThD814