Complicated HIV infection and adverse life events result in elevated risk of having psychiatric morbidity.

Methodology: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 196 HIV-positive children between 6-17years at the HIV clinic of UITH. A two-staged study was carried out: a first stage in which a questionnaire designed by the researchers was administered followed by a screening instrument-the Child Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ) to parents/caregivers and children; and a second stage interview using the K-SADS-PL. In the second stage, a score of seven or more and approximately 30% of those scoring less than seven were selected on the CBQ as this represents the best trade-off between a high sensitivity and low false positive rate. Result: About Eighteen percent (18%) of the children were aware of their HIV/AIDS status. Among the 19.4% of the study population with mental health problems, 11% were aware of their status. However, the children's awareness of HIV status was not associated with mental health problems, Pearson X 2 (1.93, N=196), p= 0.16. Children who were aware of their HIV status were more likely to be adolescents, were in secondary schools, were more likely to be from the Hausa tribe, had younger fathers and had mothers who were HIV positive,