Family and HIV/AIDS: First Line of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

This chapter provides an overview of both the field of family-based research and of this book. The epidemiology of HIV affecting family members is briefly described to indicate the severity of the problem. We use the NIMH Consortium on HIV/AIDS definition of family which is “a network of mutual commitment” and we describe the different configurations of families. There is a description of what has been documented in the literature about family process, stigma, disclosure, social capital and social support, and psychological distress of families and HIV/AIDS. This chapter also addresses the multiple roles of parents and family members: (1) as AIDS educators; (2) as monitors, (3) as providers of warmth and support; and (4) as communicators about sex and relationships. There is a description of the role of families in adapting to HIV infection in family members and negotiating other family issues, such as homosexuality, high-risk sexual behavior, and alcohol and substance abuse. There is a discussion of issues about stigma and disclosure, ­family dynamics, stress and coping, handling complex medical regimes, and maintaining custody of children in families experiencing HIV infection. Other chapters in this book are referenced so that a more in-depth review of the issues can be explored.