| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
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Although other chronically ill children have survived into adolescence, no other population shares the issues that impact this population’s mental and physical survival.
For example, as a whole, this population has endured maternal and paternal death, depression, substance abuse, and a fatal illness tainted with a shameful stigma. Unlike children with other illnesses, this population has been treated unsympathetically because of fear and prejudice. Moreover, the knowledge that their own parent was the catalyst for their illness differentiates infants born with HIV from other chronically ill children. Due to medical technology, this population has miraculously survived. Today, the medicines that once kept this population alive are quickly becoming ineffective.
Formulation of the Problem
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between the qualities of attachment, depression and medication adherence in adolescents with HIV1 infection. Early disruptions in attachment relationships are significantly correlated with depression among adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection. Attachment relationship disruptions and depression are significantly related to high rates of nonadherence to antiretroviral medication regimens during adolescence.
The quality of attachment relationships, symptoms of depression, and medication adherence of 20 adolescents aged 14–18 were evaluated. Family history, demographic information, and health information were examined. Psychological factors that were related to medication adherence and nonadherence were identified and analyzed in order to derive an understanding of the dynamics that deter an adolescent from adherence.