The immediate task might be coaxing a toddler into one more swallow of nasty-tasting medication. Longer term, there are tough choices to be made about telling that child — and the surrounding community — why those daily doses may be needed for the rest of his or her life.
While most adoptions present challenges, there's a distinctive set of them facing parents who decide to adopt children living with HIV. A twice-daily medication regimen, lingering prejudice and fear, uncertainty about the child's longevity and marriage prospects.
Yet the number of U.S. parents undertaking HIV adoptions, or seriously considering them, is surging — from a trickle five years ago to at least several hundred. Most involve orphans from foreign countries where they faced stigma, neglect and the risk of early death.
Adoption Initiative Conference 2022
2 years ago
5 comments:
I think it's great that people are taking the challenge of adopting children with HIV. All kids need homes.
I think it's wonderful that parents are adopting HIV+ kids also. What completely turns me off is this article complete with child's name, photo and HIV status! Hello, folks, this is federally protected information and yes, the parents can legally approve the release of info but morally should they? This story will live on the internet for years: what if the child grows up and someone googles her and spreads this information far and wide? I can't help it's just a touch attention seeking on the part of the parents.
I think it's wonderful that parents are adopting HIV+ kids also. What completely turns me off is this article complete with child's name, photo and HIV status! Hello, folks, this is federally protected information and yes, the parents can legally approve the release of info but morally should they? This story will live on the internet for years: what if the child grows up and someone googles her and spreads this information far and wide? I can't help it's just a touch attention seeking on the part of the parents.
Children with hepatitis B are in a similar situation to those with HIV - daily meds, and potential for transmitting the disease. Caregivers are supposed to use universal precautions, but many don't. Kids bite each other in daycare. Many parents of kids with hep B don't tell anyone that their child has this disease. It is as dangerous as HIV, but doesn't have the stigma associated with it. Lots of lists of waiting children with hepatitis B. Hopefully the stigma of HIV will eventually disappear and they will be treated just as kids who have a special need.
Just want to correct anonymous - yes children bite each other in daycare, but the reason HIV status does NOT need to be disclosed in an educational environment is because it cannot be transmitted in that environment. Certainly not by one child biting another. It is transmitted by unprotected sex, infected needles and from mother to child. That's it. No chance of household transmission.
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