Document 0733
 DOCN  M9460733
 TI    Parents with human immunodeficiency virus infection: perceptions of
       their children's emotional needs.
 DT    9404
 AU    Niebuhr VN; Hughes JR; Pollard RB; Department of Pediatrics, University
       of Texas Medical Branch at; Galveston 77555-0319.
 SO    Pediatrics. 1994 Mar;93(3):421-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94159401
 AB    OBJECTIVE. To investigate the likelihood of patients who have human
       immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
       being parents and to identify concerns of these parents about their
       children. DESIGN. A survey was conducted of parental status,
       demographics, perceptions of social/emotional needs of self and one's
       children. Responses were analyzed for demographic differences.
       PARTICIPANTS. A total of 242 patients from the university HIV/AIDS
       clinics completed the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Parental status,
       number, and ages of children, parental concerns about their children
       related to their own HIV/AIDS. RESULTS. Nearly one third (31.8%) of the
       sample of HIV/AIDS patients were parents, and three fourths (76%) of the
       female patients were mothers. Slightly more than one third of these were
       married, and these were not predominantly families who also had infected
       children. The percentage of women in the parent subsample (40.8%) was
       higher than the percentage of women in the overall patient sample
       (16.7%). Only half of the parents reported that their children > 4 years
       of age knew of their diagnosis. Two thirds of the parents reported they
       believed their children did not need to talk to someone about their
       parent's health, and nearly half of the parents reported that they did
       not need help dealing with their children concerning issues related to
       AIDS. CONCLUSION. The percentage of HIV/AIDS patients who are parents is
       high, and parental status and emotional needs of parents and their
       children will likely become an increasingly important issue. Many
       questions are raised by our findings. Should we be concerned that many
       parents have been unable to talk to their children about their own
       health? Should we help parents acknowledge that their children may need
       some outside help to cope?
 DE    Adolescence  Adolescent Psychology  Adult  Child  *Child Psychology
       Child, Preschool  Emotions  Female  Human  HIV Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY
       Infant  Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Male  Middle Age  *Parent-Child
       Relations  *Parents/PSYCHOLOGY  Social Support  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).