Neuropsychological and Psychosocial Functioning of Children with Perinatal HIV-Infection in The Netherlands
Stefanie E. M. van Opstal,
Emma J. Dogterom,
Marlies N. Wagener,
Femke K. Aarsen,
Harald S. Miedema,
Pepijn D. D. M. Roelofs,
Linda C. van der Knaap,
Pieter L. A. Fraaij,
Kim Stol,
André B. Rietman,
Eric C. M. van Gorp,
Annemarie M. C. van Rossum,
Elisabeth M. W. J. Utens
Affiliations
Stefanie E. M. van Opstal
Center of Expertise Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, 3015 EK Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Emma J. Dogterom
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center-Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Marlies N. Wagener
Center of Expertise Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, 3015 EK Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Femke K. Aarsen
Department of Psychosocial Care and Psychology, Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
Harald S. Miedema
Center of Expertise Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, 3015 EK Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Pepijn D. D. M. Roelofs
Center of Expertise Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, 3015 EK Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Linda C. van der Knaap
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center-Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Pieter L. A. Fraaij
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center-Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Kim Stol
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center-Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
André B. Rietman
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Eric C. M. van Gorp
Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Annemarie M. C. van Rossum
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center-Sophia Children’s Hospital, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Elisabeth M. W. J. Utens
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Advances in antiretroviral treatment improved the life expectancy of perinatally HIV-infected children. However, growing up with HIV provides challenges in daily functioning. This cross-sectional cohort study investigated the neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning of a group of perinatally HIV-infected children in the Netherlands and compared their outcomes with Dutch normative data and outcomes of a control group of uninfected siblings. The children’s functioning was assessed with internationally well-known and standardized questionnaires, using a multi-informant approach, including the perspectives of caregivers, teachers, and school-aged children. In addition, we explored the associations of socio-demographic and medical characteristics of the HIV-infected children with their neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning. Caregivers reported compromised functioning when compared to Dutch normative data for HIV-infected children in the areas of attention, sensory processing, social-emotional functioning, and health-related quality of life. Teachers reported in addition compromised executive functioning for HIV-infected children. A comparison with siblings revealed differences in executive functioning, problems with peers, and general health. The concurrent resemblance between HIV-infected children and siblings regarding problems in other domains implies that social and contextual factors may be of influence. A family-focused approach with special attention to the child’s socio-environmental context and additional attention for siblings is recommended.
