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. 2016 Jun 29:4:138.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00138. eCollection 2016.

HIV Status Disclosure through Family-Based Intervention Supports Parenting and Child Mental Health in Rwanda

Sumona Chaudhury  1 , Catherine M Kirk  2 , Charles Ingabire  3 , Sylvere Mukunzi  4 , Beatha Nyirandagijimana  5 , Kalisa Godfrey  4 , Robert T Brennan  2 , Theresa S Betancourt  2
Affiliations

HIV Status Disclosure through Family-Based Intervention Supports Parenting and Child Mental Health in Rwanda

Sumona Chaudhury et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: Few evidence-based interventions exist to support parenting and child mental health during the process of caregiver HIV status disclosure in sub-Saharan Africa. A secondary analysis of a randomized-controlled trial was conducted to examine the role of family-based intervention versus usual social work care (care as usual) in supporting HIV status disclosure within families in Rwanda.

Method: Approximately 40 households were randomized to family-based intervention and 40 households to care as usual. Parenting, family unity, and child mental health during the process of disclosure were studied using quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Results: Many of the families had at least one caregiver who had not disclosed their HIV status at baseline. Immediately post-intervention, children reported lower parenting and family unity scores compared with those in the usual-care group. These changes resolved at 3-month follow-up. Qualitative reports from clinical counselor intervention sessions described supported parenting during disclosure. Overall findings suggest adjustments in parenting, family unity, and trust surrounding the disclosure process.

Conclusion: Family-based intervention may support parenting and promote child mental health during adjustment to caregiver HIV status disclosure. Further investigation is required to examine the role of family-based intervention in supporting parenting and promoting child mental health in HIV status disclosure.

Keywords: Rwanda; children affected by HIV AIDS; family-based intervention; parenting; resilience.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Child and caregiver mean self-reported parenting scores. Mean child and caregiver self-reported parenting scores at baseline (pre-randomization), immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Child and caregiver mean family unity scores. Mean child and caregiver self-reported family unity scores at baseline (pre-randomization), immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Child mean self-reported resilience and mental health. Mean child self-reported resilience, anxiety, and depression, and depression scores at baseline (pre-randomization), immediately post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Directed acyclic graph: mediation of effect of HIV status disclosure on child mental health via parenting.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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