Fears over spread of HIV among families

Relatives of people with HIV/Aids are still under misconceptions about how the virus is transmitted, according to a new study.

Concerns about kissing a family member with HIV/Aids, sharing a bathroom with them or eating the same food arose in the research by Harvard University and Children's Hospital Boston.

The survey team interviewed 33 parents with HIV/Aids and their family members, including children.

Mothers and fathers with HIV/Aids were worried about catching a virus from another family member and caring for children with chicken pox or the flu.

Paediatrics chief Dr Mark Schuster said: "Fears about disease may substantially affect the relationship between the HIV-infected parent and child."

He called for more education to clear up misconceptions among young and older people.

The findings were submitted to medical journal Pediatrics, which circulates in six languages to a client base of 66,000 each month.

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