These data indicate that higher child IQ and greater family expressiveness increase the probability of earlier diagnostic disclosure to HIV-infected children. Factors associated with emotional distress highlight important areas of clinical attention. These data suggest that diagnostic disclosure may not necessarily minimize emotional distress, indicating the need for further evaluation of the appropriate timing and type of disclosure for pediatric HIV.
The objective of this study was to assess parental decision-making about illness disclosure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. This is a cross-sectional study of 51 children with HIV infection based on parent interviews, child cognitive testing, clinical assessments and medical records. Only 43% of children had been told their HIV diagnosis. Qualitative analysis of parental decisionmaking about illness disclosure varied by child developmental level. Factors influencing parental decision to disclose the child's HIV status including parental communication style, parental illness, child's rights, treatment adherence, child questions and provider pressures, whereas concerns about HIV stigma and potential emotional distress were most frequently identified as reasons for nondisclosure. Central decision-making factors for parental HIV disclosure and reported outcomes of disclosure are described. Pediatric HIV disclosure represents a complex task for parents caring for the HIV-infected child, one in which the child's development and the family's community should be considered in the setting of a potentially stigmatizing infectious illness.
Background: We sought to examine racial and ethnic disparities in test positivity rate and mortality among emergency department (ED) patients tested for COVID-19 within an integrated public health system in Northern California. Methods: In this retrospective study we analyzed data from patients seen at three EDs and tested for COVID-19 between April 6 through May 4, 2020. The primary outcome was the test positivity rate by race and ethnicity, and the secondary outcome was 30 day in-hospital mortality. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations with COVID-19 test positivity. Results: There were 526 patients tested for COVID-19, of whom 95 (18.1%) tested positive. The mean age of patients tested was 54.2 years, 54.7% were male, and 76.1% had at least one medical comorbidity. Black patients accounted for 40.7% of those tested but 16.8% of the positive tests, and Latinx patients accounted for 26.4% of those tested but 58.9% of the positive tests. The test positivity rate among Latinx patients was 40.3% (56/139) compared with 10.1% (39/387) among non-Latinx patients (p < 0.001). Latinx ethnicity was associated with COVID-19 test positivity (adjusted odds ratio 9.6, 95% confidence interval: 3.5-26.0). Mortality among Black patients was higher than non-Black patients (18.7% vs 1.3%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:We report a significant disparity in COVID-19 adjusted test positivity rate and crude mortality rate among Latinx and Black patients, respectively. Results from ED-based testing can identify racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 testing, test positivity rates, and mortality associated with COVID-19 infection and can be used by health departments to inform policy.
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