Social and Demographic Factors Affecting the HIV Infected Children in Barbados

SUMMARY Children with HIV infection in Barbados were studied to evaluate demographic and social factors affecting care during a 15-year period. There were 55 children diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during the follow up period, between 1985 to 1999, born to 53 mothers. Nine mothers (17.0%) were age 20 years or younger, and 32 (60.3%) were aged 25 years or younger. At the time of childbirth, 11 mothers (20.8%) were married to the biological father of the affected child and 42 mothers (79.2%) were unmarried; thirty-six (67.9%) mothers were unemployed. Overall, 49 mothers (92.4%) were categorized as being in lower socioeconomic groups. Of the 55 children studied, 32 (58%) were males and 23 (42%) females, with ages ranging between 1 month and 15 years. Of the twenty-two children (40%) who survived, 20 (91% of living children) were symptomatic and 2 (9% of living children) were asymptomatic. Thirty-five children (63%) were being cared for by their biological parents, 7 (13%) by grandparents, 5 (9%) by another relative, 4 (7.3%) in government-operated children's homes. Among the 22 living children, 12 (54%) have been attending school and 2 (9%) a day-care centre. Thus the majority of these HIV infected children were born to young, unmarried, and economically deprived HIV infected mothers. Care of a significant percentage of these HIV positive children involved grandparents.