Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a viral disease caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which affects the immune system of human body. This study sought to explore how adolescents with perinatal HIV infection learn about their status as well as investigate their preferences about the disclosure process. A qualitative exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used to explore the disclosure of an HIV-positive status among adolescents on antiretroviral therapy. Nonprobability purposive sampling was used to select the healthcare facilities, and adolescents were chosen using convenience sampling. In-depth individual interviews were used to collect data from the participants until data saturation was reached. Collected data were analysed using Tesch's eight steps. The results of the study revealed that adolescents have been on ART (antiretroviral therapy) without the knowledge of their own status but taking ART. Delayed disclosure of an HIV-positive status to adolescents lead to adolescent not adhering to ART and wondering why they are on treatment while other adolescents are not. The study further revealed that parents and caregivers struggle to disclose an HIV-positive status of their children, leading them to lie about what the treatment is for, for example, that it is a treatment for cough.
Keywords: adherence; adolescents; antiretroviral therapy; caregivers; disclosure; parents; perinatally.