Table 3 The barriers to disclosure of HIV status to infected children

Opinion about telling a child his/her HIV status

(n = 118)

− Positive

87

77.7

− Not sure

3

2.5

− Negative

27

22.9

− 6–9

5

4.2

–10–13

33

28.0

− 14–17

51

43.2

− 18–19

29

24.6

Mean (SD); min/max

14.9 (3.01) 6/19

− Yes

93

79.1

− No

25

20.9

Barriers to the disclosure of status to child (n = 105)

6

9.2

− Fear of psychologically harm to child

44

67.7

− Child may be too young to understand

12

18.5

− Child will not be able to keep the diagnosis

4

4.6

− Other