Pediatrics HIV-positive status disclosure and its predictors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: HIV-positive status disclosure for children is challenging for family members, guardians, and healthcare professionals. Disclosure is very challenging, particularly for children, yet no systematic synthesis of evidence accurately measures HIV-positive status disclosure in children. This systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to quantify the national prevalence of pediatric HIV-positive status disclosure in Ethiopia and identify factors associated with HIV-positive status disclosure.

Method: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science databases, and google scholar for relevant published studies. Studies published in the English language and conducted with cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional designs were eligible for the review. The primary and secondary outcomes of the study were HIV-positive status disclosure and factors associated with HIV-positive status disclosure, respectively. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. A random effect- model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of HIV-positive status disclosure. Heterogeneity and publication bias of included studies was determined using I and Egger's test, respectively.

Result: From 601 records screened, nine relevant studies consisting of 2,442 HIV-positive children were included in the analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of HIV-positive status disclosure among children living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia was 31.2% (95% CI [23.9-38.5]). HIV-negative status of caregivers (AOR: 2.01; 95% CI [1.28-3.18]), long duration on ART (greater than 5 years) (AOR: 3.2; 95% CI [1.77-5.78]) and older age of the child (>10 years) (AOR: 7.2; 95% CI [4.37-11.88]) were significantly associated with HIV-positive status disclosure.

Conclusion: Low prevalence of pediatric HIV-positive status disclosure was observed in Ethiopia. The longer duration of ART, the HIV-negative status of the caregiver, and older age greater than 10 years were the predictors of pediatric HIV-positive status disclosure. Health system leaders and policymakers shall design training and counseling programs for healthcare professionals and caregivers to enhance their awareness about HIV-positive status disclosure.

Trial Registration: This review was registered under PROSPERO and received a unique registration number, CRD42019119049.