In December 2025, a peer-reviewed article co-authored by PATA was published in the journal AIDS Care, spotlighting one of the most complex — and often under-supported — parts of paediatric and adolescent HIV care: HIV status disclosure.

Drawing on insights from healthcare providers across 12 African countries who participated in the PATA Summit, the article explores what makes disclosure “a very, very thorny issue” in real-world settings. Providers describe the everyday challenges of navigating caregiver fear, adolescent readiness, stigma and discrimination, limited time and privacy in clinics, and gaps in training and tools. The findings highlight disclosure as a process (not a one-time moment) shaped by factors at the child/adolescent, family, healthcare provider, and community levels — and point to the need for stronger pre- and post-disclosure support, developmentally appropriate communication, and coordinated action beyond health facilities.