Disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis to infected children is still a challenge despite proven evidences that it has numerous social and medical benefits for the child and family. The aim of this study was to document the disclosure rate of HIV diagnosis to children in Uyo, Nigeria and determine the factors influencing disclosure or non-disclosure to these children. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A pre-tested and validated semi-structured questionnaire was administered to consenting parents/caregivers of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infected children aged 6 to 17 years in care at the Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo (UUTH) from January to June, 2015. One hundred and twenty-two caregivers (26 males and 96 females), giving a male to female ratio of 1:3.7, aged 20 to 60 years, were interviewed. Sixty-eight (55.8%) of them had post secondary education. Twenty (16.4%) of the children aged 9 to 17 years (13.3±2.4 years) had been disclosed to. Age of the children, gender, orphan status, their level of schooling and their socioeconomic class positively affected disclosure. Also, caregivers between ages 30 and 49 years who were more educated were more likely to disclose the HIV status of their children. Commonest reason for non-disclosure was child being sad (29.5%). Others were blaming the parents (18.0%), not understanding the import of the diagnosis (9.8%) and 6.6% feared child disclosing to others. Forty-four (37.7%) did not give reasons for non-disclosure. Sixty-seven (54.9%) of the caregivers who did not disclose said they would do so after 10 years of age. A national protocol for paediatric HIV disclosure is desirable.
Background: HIV-infected children are surviving into adolescence and adulthood due to the effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) but they now have to cope with living with a chronic disease. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been shown to be an invaluable tool in assessing health outcome in chronic health conditions including HIV. Little is known about the HRQOL of HIV-infected children in both developing and developed countries. The study aimed at assessing the HRQOL of Nigerian children with HIV infection and compare it with that of healthy children in Uyo. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 211 HIV-infected children aged 2 to 15 years and 211 age, sex and social class-matched HIV-uninfected children with their caregivers was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo for a duration of nine months from October 2016 to July 2017. A generic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) was used to measure their HRQOL. Results: From both self and proxy reports, there was no significant difference in the mean total HRQOL score of HIV-infected children and that of HIV-uninfected children. Conclusions: HRQOL of HIV-infected children in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state was good and comparable to that of HIV-uninfected children. Assessment of HRQOL should be incorporated into routine antiretroviral therapy ART programmes as a measure of the outcome of disease management. This will further help to identify needs and direct interventions for holistic care of these vulnerable children.
Background: Acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), the commonest of which is acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis, is common in school aged children and typically presents with haematuria, oedema, oliguria and varying degrees of renal insufficiency. This study evaluated epidemiologic factors, presentations and treatment outcome of AGN patients at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, (UUTH), Uyo, Nigeria.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children with AGN at the paediatric nephrology unit of UUTH from January 2015 to December 2019. Data were analysed with statistical package for social sciences version 25 and p values <0.05 were considered statistical significant.Results: Fifteen out of 12,403 paediatric admissions had AGN, giving an average yearly hospital incidence of 3/year and 0.12% of total admission. Age range was three to 15 years. Mean age was 8.07±3.94 years and median was 7.00 years. Males were nine with a male/female ratio of 1.5:1. Eight (53.3%) belonged to the lowest socioeconomic class. Haematuria and peripheral oedema were universal presentations and 4 (26.7%) had antecedent pharyngeal infection. Other clinical presentations were: Oliguria 11(73.3%), Grade II hypertension 10 (66.7%), and pulmonary oedema 5 (33.3%). Four (26.7%) each had acute kidney injury, hyperkalaemia and dipstick massive proteinuria. Other complications were congestive cardiac failure 2 (13.3%), and seizures with encephalopathy in 1 (6.7%). Proteinuria was significantly associated with age at p=0.034 (Fisher Exact test). Major treatment modalities were: fluid management, loop diuretics and antibiotics as indicated.Conclusions: Short-term outcome was excellent with 100% discharge within 28 days of hospitalisation and the majority being discharged within two weeks.
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