AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #233 - Baseline and follow-up results for adolescents living with HIV+ parents in Zimbabwe and participating in a coping intervention (Project TALC) Phase II comparatice effectiveness trial.
Authors: Presenting Author: Dr. April Greek - Battelle
Additional Authors: Dr. Danuta Kasprzyk, Dr. Daniel Montaño, Dr. Sally Nyandiya Bundy, Ms. Norest Beta, Mr. Stephen Machokoto, Mr. Tinashe Muromo, Ms. Rachel Gatsi,
Aim: The adapted Project TALC (Adolescents Aware [and Not aware] of Parental Status Programme [APS/NAPS]) was implemented and tested among a cohort of 400 Zimbabwean families. A Phase II Comparative Effectiveness Trial (CET) examined the effects of the intervention via a cohort of parents and their adolescent children accrued for a Baseline and 3 post-intervention assessments.
Method / Issue: 449 children assessed at Baseline; 92% assessed at follow-ups with: 1) Health and Symptom Assessment (HSA), and 2) Psychosocial Assessment (PSA). Child and Adult HSAs and PSAs measured demographics, health status, symptoms, health services use, substance use, sexual risk, self-efficacy, self worth, family functioning, communication, and interactions, family discipline styles, stress, depression, anxiety, worry, feelings, QOL, social support, HIV knowledge, and coping with and disclosure of HIV status (parents only). Assessments were conducted by a trained team of interviewers with nurses doing the HSA, and psychosocial assessors doing the PSA.
Results / Comments: At 6-month follow-up, children from the coping vs. capacity arms reported that they talked with parents about health, self-care, how to study, family matters, relationships, gender equality, growing up, body changes, abstinence/faithfulness in sexual relationships, STDs and HIV/AIDS, HIV testing, AIDS treatment, and about caring for people with HIV/AIDS at greater frequencies. Similar differences between groups were found in talking with friends about family relationships, gender equality, and nutrition, with relationships with mothers improving in the past 6 months (all significant p<.05). Children in the coping vs. the capacity arms, reported being able to solve problems, having self-confidence, and self-appreciation (e.g. ‘I feel I am a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others’; ‘“On the whole, I am satisfied with myself’). Children in both arms agreed the techniques helped them learn new skills and make new friends (respectively, 78% coping vs 48% capacity, p<.05). Children from the coping vs. children in the capacity arm also reported being better able to “concentrate on things”. In the coping arm most children (between 70% and 95%) agreed that using the newly acquired techniques in dealing with everyday issues was useful, and that techniques were helpful in dealing with worries/problems or sadness; in feeling more confident and able to solve problems; in communication with parents, siblings, rest of the family, friends and boy/girlfriend; and in talking about HIV/AIDS to parents and friends. Almost all children in the capacity arm and none in the coping arm answered they acquired various homemaking, study and computer skills; compared to almost all children in the coping arm and none from the capacity arm saying they acquired personal skills to cope with negative feelings, social support and communication skills, and how to prevent HIV transmission, indicating no contamination between groups nor respondent bias in answering in a socially desirable manner.
Discussion: Such positive results have large implications for the mental health of adolescents, for relationships within families, and for the success of this coping program in teaching skills to adolescents who are living in a family where a parent has HIV.
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