Family situation and living arrangement of HIV-infected adolescents in Thailand

Public health policies in Thailand have now addressed the problem of mother-to-child HIV transmission. However, a large number of children who were born with HIV infection are now reaching adolescence, a critical period when their survival is at risk. The 'Teenagers Living with Antiretrovirals' TEEWA survey, undertaken by PHPT-INED interviewed 662 adolescents from 12 to 19 years old who were born with HIV across Thailand. The adolescents were asked about their daily lives and the survey also interviewed their parents or caregivers about their life histories. These children are entering adolescence, often after a traumatic childhood: a family history disrupted by the illness and the subsequent death of one or both parents; a difficult relationship with the grandparents who appear to often be their carers; periods of serious illness; and above all the discovery that they are infected with HIV. In this presentation we will give a first overview of their family situation and living arrangements in order to assess the social and health challenges faced by these teenagers.