HIV Disclosure Comics

Deciding whether and when to disclose one's HIV status to a child is one of the most significant challenges caregivers in PHACS tell us they face. Dialogues with Community Advisory Board (CAB) members, clinical site staff, and other disclosure experts have shed light on the complexity of this issue. For some caregivers, it simply may not be the right time to disclose to their children for a number of reasons. For others, a fear of rejection, a fear that the child will tell others, or feeling unprepared to answer questions their children might ask can also play a role in the decision of whether or not to disclose.

The HIV disclosure comic books are meant as a tool for caregivers who have decided they want to disclose to their child. Each comic addresses a different area or issue that caregivers reported feeling least prepared to answer from their children. Because disclosure is a process that takes place over time, the comics were designed with this flexibility in mind. Each comic can be used on its own or together, and each one also comes with a separate guide to help caregivers prepare for additional questions they may field from their children. The accompanying Caregiver Guide also provides wisdom and guidance from other caregivers around the decision of whether to disclose to a child, and the Staff Guidelines, "Discussing Disclosure Decisions with Caregivers" offers guidance from medical professionals, social workers, and caregivers to support staff members in facilitating healthy and respectful conversations about disclosure.

Listen to members of the HECC discuss the comics on the Graphic Medicine Podcast.