Children of parents with HIV ‘suffer in silence’

GROWING numbers of Scottish children are being raised by HIV-positive parents – but are afraid to talk about the situation.

The first UK study of its kind, which involved Edinburgh families, has revealed fear of stigma leaves youngsters with infected parents suffering in silence.

They feel they have nowhere to turn for support and may have already witnessed the death of their mother or father through Aids, according to the investigation.

More children are being brought-up by parents with HIV, the human immuno-deficiency virus which can lead to Aids, because patients are living longer and the risk of infection through heterosexual sex is increasing.

It is estimated the number of cases in Scotland has grown by an average of 163 ever year since 1990. By December last year there were 2071 known sufferers north of the Border.

The study suggests there is a lack of support for children of parents with HIV. Researchers from national child agency Children in Scotland and Edinburgh University interviewed young people in Dundee, Glasgow and the Capital to ask them what it was like to grow up with an HIV-positive parent.

The youngsters said they did not talk about the illness with their parents for fear of upsetting them. Most did not want their teachers to know and were not in a position to talk with medical staff.

While some statutory and voluntary agencies are of help, the children often had no-one to turn to for advice or support.

More details of the Scottish study will be presented at a conference in Edinburgh this week.