Exploring Knowledge of Caregivers of HIV Infected Children: A Cross-Sectional Study at A Tertiary Health Centre, Kolkata
Keywords:
Caregivers, Children, HIV/AIDS, KnowledgeAbstract
Introduction: HIV/AIDS is a major global threat today with huge number of HIV infected children. Caregivers of these children have a vital role to play, to meet their distinct care, support and treatment needs. They should have adequate knowledge regarding this lethal disease to successfully play their roles. This study was attempted to assess the knowledge of the caregivers of HIV in- fected children regarding the disease and factors associated with the above.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Terti- ary Health Centre, Kolkata among caregivers of HIV positive chil- dren. Relevant information was collected by interview method and from treatment cards.
Results: Majority of the caregivers were mothers (64.6%). Only 5.9%& 4% caregivers knew all the correct modes of transmission and common manifestations of the disease respectively. Overall 56.2% caregivers had poor knowledge (i.e.<=Median score) on HIV/AIDS. Illiteracy among caregivers, less than mean duration of disease of the attending child, HIV negative status of the care- givers and hospital as the most common source of knowledge of the caregivers were significantly at risk of having poor knowledge among the caregivers.
Conclusion: In spite of dedicated services at the ART centre, more than half of the caregivers had poor knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS.
References
Global factsheets 2017. HIV and AIDS Estimates. Available at: http://aidsinfo.unaids.org/. Accessed on Feb 5th ,2019.
National AIDS Control Organization. Annual Report 2016-17. New Delhi, India: NACO; 2017. p339.
Country factsheets INDIA 2017. HIV and AIDS Estimates. Available at: http://aidsinfo.unaids.org/. Accessed on Feb 5th ,2019.
Paul VK, Bagga A, editors. Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 8thed. NewDelhi:CBS Publ & Distributors Pvt Ltd;2013.p231-2
MothiSN,LalaMM,Tappuni.HIV/AIDS in women and children in India.Oral Diseases .2016; 22:19–24
Children and young people affected by HIV/AIDS in India. Challenges and emerging issues. Available at: http://www. bibalex.org/Search4Dev/files/292403/122917.pdf.Accessed on Feb 20th 2019.
Children Living with HIV/AIDS. Available at: http:// childlineindia.org.in/children-living-with-HIV-AIDS.htm. Accessed on Feb 15th 2019.
UNICEF. Caring for Children affected by HIV and AIDS. Florence, Italy:UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre; 2006. p17
Nath A. Pediatric HIV in India: Current scenario and the way forward. Indian J Public Health.2017;61:124-30.
Horizons Program. Strengthening care and support services in the era of treatment: Symposium report. Johannesburg, South Africa: Population Council;2005.
Nicholson O, Mellins C, Dolezal C, et al. HIV treatment- related knowledge and self-efficacy among caregivers of HIV infected children. Patient EducCouns. 2006 Jun;61(3):405–10.
AIDS 2012 Abstract - Knowledge of HIV transmission and experience of caregivers administering ARVs to HIV- positive children. Available at: http://pag.aids2012.org/ abstracts.aspx?aid=11146. Accessed on: Jan 14th 2016.
Coulibaly M,ThioE,Yonaba C, et al.Prevention and care of paediatric HIV infection in Ouagadougou, Burkina Fa- so:knowledge, attitudes and practices of the caregivers. BMC Pediatrics.2016.16:33
Biadgilign S, Reda AA, Deribew A, et al. Knowledge and attitudes of caregivers of HIV-infected children toward an- tiretroviral treatment in Ethiopia. Patient EducCouns. 2011 Nov;85(2):e89-94.
Meena LP, Pandey SK, Rai M, et al. Geriatric depression scale: A tool to assess depression in elderly. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2013; 2:36-42.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) India 2015- 16.West Bengal. Available at: http://rchiips.org/NFHS/ pdf/NFHS4/WB_FactSheet.pdf . Accessed on Jan 9th 2018.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) India 2015-16.Key Findings. Available at: http://rchiips.org/NFHS/pdf/ NFHS4/India.pdf. Accessed on Jan 23rd 2018.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The authors retain the copyright of their article, with first publication rights granted to Medsci Publications.
