HIV-infected African parents living in Stockholm, Sweden : Social networks, disclosure, parenthood, and knowledge about HIV-transmission  

Results: Most participants had small social networks consisting mainly of contacts with partners and children, and more than two-thirds of the participants had no relatives in Sweden informed about their HIV status.

All had contact with at least one professional person who they regarded as important to them, and contact with social workers at the HIV clinic and at the social welfare office increased the probability of disclosure about HIV infection. Many had developed new friendships among members of churches and NGOs.

The participants had basic knowledge of HIV transmission, although a third thought that HIV could transmit in non-scientifically verified ways, and there were uncertainties about whom to inform about the HIV infection. Only women had informed their children about their HIV status, and only to eight of 59 children older than six years.

Half of the parents had talked tosomeone about future custody arrangements, and most parents wanted their children to be cared for by a relative in Sweden or by their HIV-negative partner.

The thematic results revealed that the participants main reason to avoid being open about their HIV status was fear of being treated differently. Strategies they used were to omit the word HIV in conversations, and to pretend to have other illnesses when communicating with their children.