Abstract:
According to 2016 global HIV statistics, in 2016, globally there are an estimated 36.7
million people living with HIV of which 25. 5 million are in sub‐Saharan Africa and 1.8
million are children .In Ethiopia, by 2017, there are estimated 722,248 people living with
the virus of which 57,132 are children up to the age of 14 years according to the Ethiopian
public health institute. Survival of perinatally infected children into adolescence and
beyond made disclosure a major challenge for caregivers and healthcare professionals
providing service to HIV‐infected children. Although disclosure is associated with
improved adherence to HAART and attendance to follow up clinics, there are significant
numbers of children and adolescents who are receiving treatment without being fully
informed about their HIV status because many health care workers fear that disclosure
may create distress for the child.