Prevalence and correlates of HIV status disclosure and depressive symptoms among children living with HIV in the central zone of Tanzania

The disclosure of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status in children remains a sensitive and complex issue in sub-Saharan Africa. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and correlates of HIV status disclosure and depressive symptoms among HIV-infected children. A total of 366 children and their caregivers were recruited from 12 Care and Treatment Centers in Dodoma and Singida regions between June 2021 and December 2022. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed using SPSS v20. The prevalence of HIV status disclosure was 49.7%, and depressive symptoms was 51.1%. Correlates of HIV status disclosure included older child age (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-7.9), longer duration on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (AOR = 7.3; 95% CI: 2.2-24.2), and caregiver prior experience with disclosure (AOR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.1-0.9). Disclosure was also correlated with increased depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.09-3.1). Depressive symptoms were more common among children with male caregivers (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.4) and those whose caregivers had prior experience with disclosure (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.7-4.2). These findings underscore the need to integrate mental health support within HIV care and to enhance male caregiver involvement in child wellbeing.