Maternal HIV infection and other factors associated with growth outcomes of HIV-uninfected infants in Entebbe, Uganda
Muhangi, L.; Lule, S.A.; Mpairwe, H.; Ndibazza, J.; Kizza, M.; Nampijja, M.; Nakazibwe, E.; Kihembo, M.; Elliott, A.M.; Webb, E.L.
Public Health Nutrition 16(9): 1548-1557
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1475-2727 PMID: 23507372 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980013000499Document Number: 579206
To assess the associations between maternal HIV infection and growth outcomes of HIV-exposed but uninfected infants and to identify other predictors for poor growth among this population. Within a trial of de-worming during pregnancy, the cohort of offspring was followed from birth. HIV status of the mothers and their children was investigated and growth data for children were obtained at age 1 year. Length-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-length Z-scores were calculated for each child; Z-scores ,22 were defined as stunting, underweight and wasting, respectively. The study was conducted in Entebbe municipality and Katabi subcounty, Uganda. The sample consisted of 1502 children aged 1 year: HIV-unexposed (n 1380) and HIV-exposed not infected (n 122). Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was 14.2%, 8.0% and 3.9%, respectively. There was evidence for an association between maternal HIV infection and odds of being underweight (adjusted OR52.32; 95% CI 1.32, 4.09; P=0.006) but no evidence for an association with stunting or with wasting. Young maternal age, low maternal education, low birth weight, early weaning and experiencing a higher number of episodes of malaria during infancy were independent predictors for stunting and underweight. A higher number of living children in the family was associated with wasting. Maternal HIV infection was associated with being underweight in HIV-exposed uninfected infants. The success of programmes for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission means that an increasing number of infants will be born to HIV-infected women without acquiring HIV. Therefore, viable nutritional interventions need to be identified for this population.