Nutritional predictors of acute respiratory infections among children born to HIV-infected women in Tanzania
Mwiru, R.; Spiegelman, D.; Hertzmark, E.; Duggan, C.; Msamanga, G.; Aboud, S.; Fawzi, W.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 59(3): 203-208
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1465-3664 PMID: 23400399 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmt004Document Number: 576778
We prospectively determined the association between undernutrition and incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among 711 children born to HIV-infected women. Overall, underweight was associated with a 58% increased risk of ARI. Similarly, wasting (54%), very low birth weight (88%) and child HIV infection (62%) were significantly associated with increased risk of ARI during the first 2 years. Breastfeeding was associated with 52% reduction in risk of ARI only during the first 12 months of life. Among HIV-exposed, but uninfected, children, underweight, wasting and stunting were associated with 73%, 61% and 33% increased risk of ARI, respectively. Very low birthweight and advanced maternal disease stage were also associated with increased risk of ARI. Similar results were observed among HIV-infected children, except for stunting and very low birth weight. Prevention of child undernutrition could have major impact in reducing child ARI morbidity in settings of high HIV prevalence.