The Influence Of Hiv Status Disclosure On Depressive Symptoms And Quality Of Life Among Hiv Infected Children Of 10 To 15 Years Receiving Hiv Care Services At Central Zone Regions Of Tanzania

ABSTRACT Background: World Health Organization recommends HIV status disclosure to be done to children of age 6-12 years. HIV status disclosure among children is important for improving their self-care behaviours, psychological well-being, and quality of life. However some previous studies revealed that children who received HIV disclosure ended up with depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of HIV status disclosure on depressive symptoms and quality of life among HIV-infected children in central zone of Tanzania. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 366 HIV infected children aged 10-15 years attending at Care and Treatment Centres together with their caregivers. A multistage sampling method was used in obtaining sample from region to district and at clinic level. Data were managed and analysed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 and the results were considered statistically significant at p-value of less than 0.05. Descriptive analysis was used to assess HIV disclosure status, quality of life and the prevalence of depressive symptoms. To assess the association between variables, a chi-square test and a logistic regression were used. Results: Among the HIV infected children; the HIV disclosure rate was estimated to be 59.84%, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 51.09% and 54.92% of children had a low quality of life. Disclosure status was associating with child’s age, the older the child the more likely they are to be disclosed (AOR = 2.464, p < 0.001). The study found a significant association between disclosure status and depressive symptoms among HIV infected children, full-disclosed children were more likely to have depressive symptoms than non-disclosed children (AOR = 2.362, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Although full-disclosure associated with increase in depressive symptoms, depressive symptoms decreased when children received post-disclosure. This study recommends on the improvement of disclosure process to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms influenced by disclosure. Likewise the study encourage more follow-up after full-disclosing to children, this is because with post-disclosure children are less likely to have depressive symptoms.