Continuing Nursing Education
Perceptions of Children with HIV/AIDS from the USA and Kenya: Self-Concept and Emotional Indicators
Sylvia M. Waweru
Annette Reynolds
Ellen B. Buckner
Perceptions
of children’s self-concept and associated emotional indicators were
assessed in two populations, United States and Kenya, in children
living with HIV/AIDS. Assessment of the self-concept mode of the Roy
Adaptation Model used both verbal and nonverbal strategies. The sample
of children (N = 48), ages 7 to 12 years who were HIV-positive, was
recruited from a family clinic that cares for children with chronic
illness in the United States (n = 6) and an orphanage that provides for
HIV-positive children in Kenya (n = 42). Self-concept was measured
using a modification of Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale. Emotional
indicators were measured from Human Figure Drawings (HFD) described by
Koppitz (1968). All U.S. children were found to have an average
self-concept and one-third demonstrated significant emotional
indicators. In Kenya, 93% of the participants had an average
self-concept and half were found to have significant emotional
indicators. HFD can be used with other screening tools to perform a
psychosocial assessment and screening for referral. This study
contributes to nursing science by introducing a model-based assessment
with cross-cultural applicability.
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