School Children with HIV/AIDS

Ian W. Toal is a registered nurse in Barrie, Ontario.

Although the total number of children in Canada with HIV or AIDS is
small, the emotional impact of living with the disease is significant.
Children with HIV are living longer and therefore are entering the
school system in increasing numbers. As these children—and their
parents—enter the school system, the emotional impact of the illness
becomes more complex.

This accessible book is based on a research project that examined the
perceptions and experiences of parents and children with HIV in the
school system. The shared experiences range from wonderful to abysmal.
The parents of one HIV-positive child held a birthday party; instead of
the few children they expected to show up, all the invited children plus
others came. At the other extreme, one HIV-positive woman who wanted to
drive for school outings was essentially denied that opportunity.

The authors begin by looking at the current status of HIV/AIDS in
Canada and then examine a number of “theme clusters” that arose from
the interviews. Quotes are used to illustrate the themes, which range
from stigma to need for human touch. Parents (most of whom had good
relations with the schools) were also asked to make recommendations to
school systems. The authors summarize their findings in a
“Discussion” section and make their own recommendations. Their
accessible book would make a useful resource for teachers, parents, and
even children in the school system who may need further education about
HIV/AIDS and those who live with it.