Who, then what? The need for interventions to help young people with perinatally acquired HIV disclose their HIV status to others.

There has been considerable interest in paediatric HIV disclosure. This is the process leading to full disclosure (when the condition is named for the HIV-positive child, usually by a caregiver or healthcare worker). WHO guidelines state that children should be aware of the name of their condition by the age of 12, with younger children told their status incrementally to accommodate their cognitive skills and emotional maturity in preparation for full disclosure [3]. There is evidence, however, of variation in the age of full disclosure with this taking place later in resource-limited contexts than in other parts of the world [4]. Being aware of one’s status (full disclosure) is a prerequisite for onward disclosure and there is evidence of more onward disclosure if children are aware of their status earlier [5]. How one was disclosed to, for example, if there was an opportunity to ask questions about HIV and to feel listened to, may also impact on onward disclosure decision-making.