Intimate relationships in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV: Partner considerations

Abstract

Due to developments in anti-retroviral treatment, an increasing number of children with perinatally acquired HIV are now surviving into late adolescence and young adulthood. This cohort is facing normative challenges in terms of their intimate relationships as well as challenges that face all individuals with HIV regardless of the route of transmission (for example, concerns about disclosure). There may be additional issues specific to having grown up with HIV that affect intimate relationships, for example, the awareness of being HIV positive before the onset of intimate relationships and the way that identity is shaped by having lived with HIV from a young age. To date there has been some limited research on the experience of intimate relationships in perinatally infected adolescents but none in young adults. This exploratory study examined, in depth, experiences of intimate relationships in perinatally acquired young adults and how they perceived having grown up with HIV to have affected such relationships. Seven participants (five females, two males) aged 18-23 years, were interviewed, with the data analysed according to the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three themes emerged that related to partners' perceptions of HIV: (1) HIV being viewed by partners as being linked to AIDS and sexual transmission, (2) discrepancy between young people and their partners' views of HIV, (3) partner views of risk of HIV transmission. There were strong links between participants' personal experiences of HIV-related challenges, for example, disclosure and HIV-related stigma, and their thinking about the perceptions of partners. These findings have important implications for supporting young people in disclosing their HIV status to intimate partners in appropriate ways. Suggestions for future research are offered.

Providers Caring for Adolescents with Perinatally-Acquired HIV: Current Practices and Barriers to Communication About Sexual and Reproductive Health

“…5 Further, HIV disclosure is one of the most challenging components of engaging in romantic relationships and is fraught with anxiety. 22,23 There is evidence to support the efficacy of disclosure-oriented counseling from providers in increasing the likelihood of disclosure in romantic relationships among adults with HIV as well as the disclosure to children. 24,25 Most providers (73.1%) reported pregnancies among female patients with PHIV at their clinics (Table 4).…”

“Let's Talk about Sex”: A Qualitative Study of Rwandan Adolescents' Views on Sex and HIV

“…Earlier studies have found that disclosing HIV status to a sexual partner often results in negative outcomes such as rejection by romantic partners and/or the community and stigma [30], [ 31]. Previous rejection, fear of rejection, and thinking about partner perceptions have often been reported as barriers for disclosing HIV status to the sexual partner [31], [ 32].…”

“…Previous rejection, fear of rejection, and thinking about partner perceptions have often been reported as barriers for disclosing HIV status to the sexual partner [31], [ 32]. WHO recognizes disclosure as a complicated issue and recommends that “adolescents be counseled about the potential benefits and risks of disclosure of their HIV status and empowered and supported to determine if, when, how and to whom to disclose” [33].…”

Understanding disclosure behaviours in HIV-positive young people

“…Furthermore, health beliefs and attitudes are also much more likely to be culturally specific which has potential impacts on the active role of children in decision-making and inclusion (Seery, 2010). Greenhalgh et al (2013) intimated a possible association between the ethnic background of parents and the frame of reference used to perceive the condition within families and this is of particular relevance due to the proportion of children affected by HIV in the UK coming from a Black African ethnic background.…”

“…Advances in HIV treatment including accessibility to antiretroviral therapies have meant that for many of these children and young people, they are living beyond original expectations and leading much healthier lives (Wiener and Battles, 2006;Greenhalgh et al, 2013;Fair et al, 2016). Mortality and morbidity rates have improved significantly, and for many the perception of living with HIV has transformed from being viewed as an acute terminal illness to a chronic condition and consequently these young people now confront living with HIV as such and the challenges that go with living with chronic conditions (Sopen et al 2010, Hogwood et al 2012.…”