Revealing an HIV diagnosis for children and adolescents: subsidy for the practice of care

ABSTRACT

Objective  To collectively build a guide for following-up on HIV diagnosis disclosure to children and adolescents in a specialized service.

Method  Convergent-care research approach with observation triangulation, interview and groups, conducted from May to June 2015 with seven health professionals in a pediatric outpatient clinic for infectious diseases. Thematic content analysis was developed.

Results  The discussion of understanding the disclosure, its triggers, actors involved, used strategies, and limits and possibilities listed by the professionals subsidized the construction of a guide to be applied in the stages: analyzing children’s questions and curiosities; evaluating their cognitive ability; discussing the reasons to reveal; listing the professionals involved on follow-up process; including family; developing strategies for disclosure.

Conclusion  This guide may mediate changes in care practice to ensure the child’s rights and to make the professionals co-accountable.

HIV; Child health; Adolescent health; Truth disclosure