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Hiv-Infected Mothers' Disclosure to their Uninfected Children: Rates, Reasons, and Reactions

Columbia University, eschrimshaw{at}gc.cuny.edu

Karolynn Siegel

Columbia University

Focused interviews were conducted with a sample of 45 HIV-infected mothers to identify the reasons women offer for disclosing or not disclosing the illness to their uninfected children, the women's perceptions of their children's reactions to such disclosure, and what effects this disclosure may have on subsequent relationships with their children. Two-thirds (66%) of the mothers had disclosed their HIV infection to one or more of their children. Disclosure rates varied according to age of the child, mother's current disease stage, and whether the child lived with the mother. Mothers reported many reasons for disclosing their HIV infection to their children, including wanting to educate their children about HIV, wanting their children to hear it from them, wanting their children to know before they became very ill, and wanting to be honest with their children. Reasons for nondisclosure included believing that their children were too young or immature, believing it would be too much of an emotional burden for their children, not wanting their children to experience rejection, not wanting their children to fear losing their mother, and wanting their children to recover from previous losses. Although adverse reactions were reported in a few children, most mothers reported that their children, although emotional at first, experienced little, if any, lasting negative impact. Indeed, many reported that the relationship with their children had become closer following disclosure.

Key Words: HIV/AIDS • mother-child relationship • self-disclosure

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 19, No. 1, 19-43 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407502191002


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