Page 39 - Children Bookt.pdf

10. Adherence assessment and strategies to improve adherence

Children are not small adults, especially in relation to the assessment and support of
adherence. Adapted approaches and tools are necessary and should be available and
understood by health care personnel. In order to do so, a comprehensive knowledge of

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to the child itself, the caretaker, the health care provider, the regimen factors and the
society in general. Support and assessment of adherence in children is a continuous
procedure, starting well in advance of treatment and throughout further follow up.
Depending on the stage, whether preparing for treatment or already taking ARV drugs,
different issues need to be addressed and adapted approaches applied.

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7 #&> While on ARV treatment

Related to the child

How to communicate and evaluate the Communication and evaluation
readiness? Plays need to be an integral part of
Communication on health, sickness, ARV clinics. This helps the children
pain, treatment and adherence to live positively with HIV/AIDS,
issues can be done through fairy provides fun and is a perfect way to
tails and games. Depending on provide information, education and
the child's maturity, it can include communication
other issues like treatment plan, Communication can happen
treatment monitoring, disclosure and individually but also in groups,
transmission routes.

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Any communication should be open without compulsory disclosure, e.g.,

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a child shows how he/she swallows
feelings and to ask questions, whether tablets.
individually or in groups. The importance of adherence is
The message should be clear and crucial during further follow up and
positive focussing on "AIDS can be can be addressed through different
treated". games and fairy tales.
Disclosure should not a prerequisite An evaluation of the child's worries
for good adherence. However, the and feelings is essential to adherence,
issue can be addressed through tools. especially at the commencement of
treatment.

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