Risk of HIV and associated factors among infants born to HIV positive women in Amhara region, Ethiopia: a facility based retrospective study

Abstract

BackgroundThe estimated HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Ethiopia is 1.2 percent and unfortunately one of every 3 children born to these women gets infected with HIV. Elimination of these mother-to-child transmissions (MTCT) of HIV is possible through HIV testing during pregnancy and taking antiretroviral medications. However, only 24 percent of the pregnant women living with HIV have yet received the medication needed to prevent the transmission of HIV. Hence, there exists a concern that the rate of HIV infection among infants born to HIV positive mothers is increasing. This study assessed the prevalence of HIV infection and associated factors among infants born to women living with HIV, in South Gondar zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia.MethodsFacility based document review was conducted upon 434 charts. The study participants were HIV exposed infants enrolled from January to December 2012. The data were reviewed from all the 17 health facilities which were providing PMTCT services in the zone. The study included 434 HIV exposed infants having an HIV Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result. The data were collected using structured data extraction tool. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the putative association of independent variables with the outcome variable. Significance was taken at a P value <0.05 and 95% confidence level.ResultThe prevalence of HIV among HIV exposed infants was 10.1% (95% CI = 7.3 - 13%). Delayed diagnosis (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.3, 29.4), mixed infant feeding (AOR = 8.8, 95% CI = 4.5, 22.8), failure to receive either antiretroviral therapy or prophylaxis during pregnancy or breast feeding (AOR = 21.6, 95% CI = 14.5, 39.8) and shorter duration of HIV treatment (AOR = 12, 95% CI = (4.2, 45.0) were the factors that increase the risk of mother- to- child transmission of HIV.ConclusionThe prevalence of HIV infection among HIV exposed infants is strikingly high. Inadequate use of antiretroviral therapy and skilled delivery care were the factors that enhance mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Integrated and audience specific education and promotion for seeking obstetric care and HIV services is instrumental to curb the devastating consequences of HIV on pregnant women and their newborns

Early Diagnosis of Hiv in Infants Using Dried Blood Spot- A Retrospective Study From 2010 to 2016

“…There are more chances of transmission of HIV through normal delivery as there is more exposure of mucosal surface of baby in normal delivery as compared to Caesarean section. This finding correlates with the study of Hondegla et al, Kaizad et al, Berhan et al and Sumitra Yadav et al 11,13,14,15 As mother-to-child transmission rates have been reported in USA and Western European untreated populations as 15-20%; in developing countries, rates were as high as 40%. 14 In our study, according to Table III, the infectivity rate in infants of HIV positive mothers was 3.03%.…”

“…12 In the study of Berhan et al, 25-34 years age group was most affected (59.9%) with HIV in ANC patients. 13 The age variation depends upon age at the time of marriage and infectivity of the partner.…”

Quasi-Poisson versus negative binomial regression models in identifying factors affecting initial CD4 cell count change due to antiretroviral therapy administered to HIV-positive adults in North–West Ethiopia (Amhara region)

“…In 2014, about 39.9 million people were living with HIV and the global prevalence rate was 0.8% [3]. In 2009 alone, an estimated 1.3 million adults and children died because of HIV/AIDs in Sub-Saharan African [4]. Most of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa are between age 15 and 49, which is the prime age of working [5].…”

Barriers to the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among HIV-positive mothers in sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review of counselling, socioeconomic and cultural factors

“…Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (MTCT) occurs during pregnancy, delivery, or post-delivery via breastfeeding. In the absence of anti-retroviral therapy (ART), prolonged breast-feeding up to 24 months has an estimated 10-16% risk of postnatal transmission (Miotti et al, 1999;Nduati et al, 2000;Berhan et al, 2014). The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mixed feeding as "breastfeeding with the addition of fluids, solid foods and/or non-human milks such as formula" (WHO, 2008) (Table 1).…”