Abstract
Objective: The role of HIV exposure in determining growth among HIV-uninfected children is debated. We determined whether intrauterine HIV exposure influences linear growth in a cohort of Ethiopian children followed up to 18 months of age in public health facilities in Adama city, Ethiopia. Methods: Participants were offspring of pregnant women enrolled in a prospective cohort study that included screening for HIV infection during antenatal care. Growth patterns of HIV-exposed and uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed (HU) children were compared up to 18 months of age, with length-for-age z-score (LAZ) and proportion with stunting as primary outcomes. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were constructed to investigate the associations between HIV exposure and linear growth, controlling for socio-demographic factors and breastfeeding status. Results: Of 1705 included infants (164 HEU), 1276 remained in follow-up at 18 months. Among HIV-positive mothers, 132 (80.5%) were receiving antiretroviral therapy at enrolment. At the 18-month visit, mean LAZ was −1.08 among HEU children and −0.74 among HU children (p = 0.052). Proportions of HEU and HU children with stunting at the 18-month visit were 27.8% and 18.7%, respectively (p = 0.010). In multivariable models, HIV exposure was associated with lower LAZ at all follow-up visits, and with stunting at the 18-month visit (adjusted odds ratio 2.29, 95% confidence interval 1.40–3.71). HIV exposure was not associated with weight-related growth outcomes. Conclusions: HEU children in Ethiopia had inferior linear growth compared with HU children, implying that intrauterine HIV exposure impacts early childhood growth in this setting.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 823-830 |
Journal | Tropical Medicine and International Health |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 9 |
Early online date | 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Pediatrics
- Health Sciences
Free keywords
- child
- growth
- HIV
- length
- nutrition
- stunting
- uninfected