Case report
HIV-Infected Children in Croatia – Medical Care versus Ethical and Social Issues
Tihana Kniewald
Goran Tešović
Vesna Bilić
Abstract
The era of pediatric HIV-infection in Croatia began in 1987 when the first child from an HIV-infected mother was
born. The authors present some medical data of children diagnosed as HIV-infected or observed because of maternal
HIV-infection in Croatia until the end of 2005. Although the number of HIV-infected children in Croatia is still relatively
small, in the last two decades the Croatian society was confronted with many ethical and social issues regarding HIV-infection
and discrimination. There were many obstacles in providing proper care and integrating HIV-infected children
in the Croatian society. Stigmatisation, fear and lack of knowledge were major contributors. For the first time, the integration
of an HIV-infected child with revealed HIV-status into school was described. Changes in attitudes towards HIV-
-infected people can only be achieved through planned permanent educational programs.
Keywords
HIV/AIDS; children; human rights; discrimination; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
27703
URI
Publication date:
25.4.2006.
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