Keywords: Children

You may think that children are too young to learn about HIV/AIDS, but young people hear many messages about it from the media, friends, or other family members. Perhaps they even know someone who is HIV positive.The truth of the matter is that the only way to help prevent HIV/AIDS among young people is to share accurate, age-appropriate information so that they can protect themselves. This leaflet provides pratical information for parents and caregivers on how to talk to children about HIV/AIDS and gives basic key stats.

Raising a child is probably the most gratifying job any of us will ever have — and one of the toughest. In large part, that’s because times have changed. We live in an increasingly complex world that challenges us everyday with a wide range of disturbing issues that are difficult for children to understand and for adults to explain. We believe this booklet can help. It offers practical, concrete
tips and techniques for talking easily and openly with young children ages 8 to 12 about some very tough issues: sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, drugs and alcohol. Some parents and caregivers may question the appropriateness of talking about such sensitive topics with young children. Maybe you’re one of them. But consider this: our kids are already hearing about these issues from TV, movies, magazines and school friends. If we don’t talk with them early and often — and answer their questions — they’ll get their facts from someone else. And we’ll have missed an important opportunity to offer our children information that’s not only accurate, but also in sync with our own personal values and moral principles. 

This is the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute clinical guidelines for disclosure of HIV to perinatally inefected children and adolescents. These guidelines are directed for use by multidisciplinary teams working with families and children living HIV.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed guidance for health care workers on how to support children up to 12 years of age and their caregivers with disclosure of HIV status. Health care workers (HCWs) know that disclosure decisions are complex because of stigma, social support concerns, family relations, parenting skills and concern about children’s emotional and maturational ability to understand and cope with the nature of the illness.

This chapter from the Paediatric Hepatitis Report by Parents of Kids with Infectious Disease provides guidelines to parents on how to speak to children about Hepatitis. The guidelines can be easily applied to talking to children about HIV and AIDS and there are references and examples made in the text about HIV and AIDS disclosure. This chapter provides insights on how to create a communication plan from parents and experts working with and caring for children with Hepatitis.

This chapter from the Paediatric Hepatitis Report by Parents of Kids with Infectious Disease on lessons learnt about how to disclose to children about an infectious disease. This is an account from two experts who have worked with hundreds of families, they share their insights and experience.

This tool consists of 32 counselling cards for children between the ages of 4-16 who are undisclosed, partially or fully disclosed to. This is targeted for the use of a counsellor who works with the child. The cards has images on 1 side and themes and explanations on the other.

This poster is a step by step guide for conversations with children about disclosure, it focuses on the age range of 0-14 years. The poster is targeted towards health care professionals and counsellors working with HIV positive childern and their caregivers. It recommends full disclosure between the age of 11-14 years.

This is a series of guidelines for counselling people who are infected with HIV or are living with or caring for people with AIDS. Each booklet offers practical guideance on specific counselling issues. This series does not target children specifically but is more designed for assisting adults deal with disclosure.

12 slide Presentation on how to disclose to a child. This presentation is targeted towards a health care worker or consellor. It not only focuses on the child in question but also the preparation and guidance of the parent/caregivers.