Children of HIV Positive Injectable Drug Users (IDUs): A Study into their Psychopathology

Abstract

Aim: To examine the association between psychopathology in children whose parents/parent is HIV positive injecting drug user (IDU).
Methods: HIV seropositive parents (N = 48) of mean age 37.6 years (SD 6.2, range 26–55) were drawn from De-addiction OPD of the department of Psychiatry and the ART centre of excellence of Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University who were registered from July 2019 to July 2021. Their socio-demographic details, current drug use status and activities of daily living were assessed using Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scales (IADLs). In a single cross-sectional interview children were screened using Child Behavior Check List (CBCL). This scale gives scores for the symptoms which are internalized and those that are externalized.
Results: All seropositive parents were taken at the time of study out of which 48% had CD4 count below 200 cells/mL and 52% had above it. 43.8% parents reported to abuse illicit drug mostly heroin and sedatives. Parental CD4 counts and health status variables, medical illness were significantly co-relating with internalized symptoms in the offspring of the parenteral drug users (OR 4.67, p < 0.025). Total no. of children included were 52 boys and 35 girls. Their mean age was 12.5 years (SD 2.0, range 6–16). Child CBCL scores indicates that 23.5%, 31.0%, and 25.5% fell in the at-risk range for symptoms which are internalized, externalized, and the total CBCL scores respectively.
Conclusion: Parental HIV seropositivity status does not have much impact on child’s health but it does have apparent risk of developing psychopathological and behavioral problems in children which can pose future challenges for this group of children.