Growing up: perspectives of children, families and service providers regarding the needs of older children with perinatally-acquired HIV.

Children with perinatally-acquired HIV are living into adolescence and adulthood. As this is a relatively new phenomenon, there is a paucity of research highlighting the complex issues that arise for these children. This qualitative case-study examines the needs of a select group of older children (9-16 years old) with perinatally-acquired HIV in the province of British Columbia, Canada through focus groups and interviews conducted with ten HIV-infected children, 11 family members and 11 service providers. The needs of this population are diverse, reflecting its heterogeneity. However, participants consistently highlighted issues of stigma, sexual health and mental health as major areas of current and future concern. Continued support, education and future planning in these areas are necessary for older HIV-infected children as they transition out of childhood.

Journal writing as a social support strategy for parents of premature infants: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Having a premature baby is acknowledged to be stressful to parents. Journal writing combines practical, emotional and informational support that may be useful to these parents. METHODS: We conducted a study to assess the potential for promoting journal-writing for parents receiving social support in a special care nursery (SCN). Parents were provided with educational material on journal writing, and subsequently surveyed concerning their journal-writing during their child's hospitalization. RESULTS: Of the 73 parents enrolled, 32% kept a journal; of these, 73% felt it helped considerably in reducing stress, and 68% used it as a means of addressing the most stressful elements of their nursery experience. Journals were used primarily to document involvement in care (45%), record-keeping (36%), and organization of thoughts (27%). All of those who kept a journal recommended it for use by other parents. CONCLUSIONS: Encouraging parents to keep a journal is a constructive way of dealing with the SCN-related stress.

Group support for parents of high risk neonates: an interdisciplinary approach.

Many parents are unable to develop a satisfying relationship with their sick newborn. Although data are divided over the critical nature of the attachment process, measures to assist parents and reduce socio-environmental stresses are considered desirable. Group support is one such measure which can provide parents with a commonly needed component of neonatal intensive care. In the group described, weekly sessions are informal, encouraging discussion, an understanding of neonatal care and recognition that some emotional and coping disturbance is normal. Staff involved are an interdisciplinary team (social worker, doctor and nurse). The group requires no special funding and time commitment is low considering the support provided. We have met weekly for five years with sustained attendance. No control group exists but parents appear increasingly comfortable in the nursery and able to achieve more meaningful and ongoing interaction with their infant and the staff.

Abortion counseling in a general hospital.

Given the increase in the number of abortions being performed in hospitals throughout the United States and Canada, there is an obvious need for counseling programs for these patients. The authors describe one such program, and emphasize the importance of close working relationships between the counselors and their supervising staff.