Scholastic performance and ambitions in retropositive and vulnerable pediatric patients: A prospective study

INTRODUCTION: It is widely recognized that HIV epidemic has a negative impact on retropositive pediatric patients. However, at present, the school performance and ambitions in retropositive and vulnerable pediatric patients from India are lacking. AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyze the possible association between scholastic performance and ambitions in retropositive and vulnerable status in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case–control study was conducted over a period of 2 years. Forty-two retropositive, vulnerable, and equal age- and gender-matched controls between the age of 6 and 16 years were included. All children or parents were enquired about performance, attendance, grades in last academic year, and their ambitions in life. The data were collected in a prevalidated questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 20. RESULTS: A total 42 children between the age of 6 and 16 years were included. Twenty-seven (64.3%) were males and 15 (35.7%) females. Eleven (26.2%) were retropositive, 27 (64.3%) had one infected parent, and 4 (9.5%) patients had both the parents retropositive. Twelve (28.5%) cases failed their previous academic years compared to 1 (2.3%) control. Only 2 (4.7%) had attendance more than 90% in cases as compared to 18 (42.8%) among controls. Twenty-one (50%) attributed feeling of isolation as a cause of poor academic performance, while none of the controls did the same. There was a significant association between poor grades and poor attendance at school and retropositive (P < 0.001). The odds ratio of feeling of isolation was 1.62. CONCLUSION: Retropositive and vulnerable status significantly affect the academic performance and ambitions in these children.