In a study done to evaluate the effect of diseases on contact with children it was seen that children of parents with HIV were less likely to get the kind of affection other kids received.
Results also showed about a quarter of HIV-positive parents report avoided certain types of physical contact with their kids out of fear they might transmit the disease to their children or pick up infections from the kids that could worsen their own conditions.Researchers talked with HIV-positive parents about the impact the disease was having on the way they interact with their children. About a third of the group reported fearing at least a little that they might transmit the disease to their child, and nearly 20 percent feared transmission a lot. About 42 percent had at least a little fear of getting an infection from their child through intimate contact like kissing and hugging, and around 14 percent reported a moderate fear in this area. About 22 percent said they generally refrain from kissing their kids on the lips, and nearly 18 percent reported avoiding the sharing of utensils due to these fears. About 40 percent said they avoid these and other behaviors at least some of the time.
In conclusion researchers say their findings point to a need for physicians to talk with HIV-positive parents to reassure them about the safety of certain types of intimate contact with their children .
