Maternal HIV infection: parenting and early child development.

Examined whether support could offset the potential stress of maternal HIV infection with regard to parenting and early child development in two studies of low income, urban, drug-using mothers of infants and toddlers. In one study, support was provided through home intervention; in the other, support was measured through self-report. There were few differences in parenting and early child development related to maternal HIV infection. HIV+ mothers reported less child-related stress among their toddlers, more normative levels of child abuse potential following 18 months of home intervention, and displayed more positive involvement with their children. Results, interpreted from ecological theory, suggest that although the early stages of maternal HIV infection may have been too distal to influence the lives of high-risk mothers of infants and toddlers, when differences existed, HIV+ mothers demonstrated more positive attitudes and behaviors toward parenting and were more able to benefit from home intervention than HIV- mothers.