The Characterization of Perceived Social Support of HIV-diagnosed Adolescents

The main objective of this investigation was to characterize social support in adolescents diagnosed with HIV. A qualitative study with a hermeneutic interpretation approach was carried out. As a result, it was evident that the participants have networks that provide them with support in their different functions: family, peers and health institutions. Their results support that family is one of the networks with more influence and it has a multidimensional function in the provision of support. Additionally, there were beliefs regarding health and disease that promote fears and limit the relationships that the adolescent establishes in terms of revealing the diagnosis to other networks.