HIV

I'm currently reading about HIV and at the end of the section, it talks about the emotional feelings of the patient/clients. It talked about the different ways that parents cope, etc. The thing that caught me off guard was the child infected with HIV from their parent.

These children don't know their diagnosis. They just think they're constantly "sick." At what age or time point would you tell your child that you gave them HIV? As a parent, I would feel extreme guilt and feel terrible. I wouldn't want to tell my child that I gave that to them. After awhile, you have to tell your child what happened. So when would you tell your child? 6 years old? 12?

It's a really unfortunate situation. Would you keep yourself from getting pregnant to keep the illness from your child? Or do you accept the fact that even a child with HIV has a right to live and is just as equal and important as any other child? Just something to think about.

When I encounter this situation one day, I hope now I'll have more of an understanding of the situation.