Neonatal mortality in HIV-exposed infants born to women receiving combination antiretroviral therapy in Rural Uganda
Ades, V.; Mwesigwa, J.; Natureeba, P.; Clark, T.D.; Plenty, A.; Charlebois, E.; Achan, J.; Kamya, M.R.; Havlir, D.V.; Cohan, D.; Ruel, T.D.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 59(6): 441-446
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1465-3664 PMID: 23764539 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmt044Document Number: 581159
As human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women gain access to combination antiretroviral therapy throughout sub-Saharan Africa, a growing number of infants are being born HIV-exposed but uninfected. Data about neonatal mortality and the impact of premature delivery, in this population are limited. We describe the 28-day mortality outcomes in a cohort of HIV-exposed infants who had ultrasound-confirmed gestational age in rural Uganda. There were 13 deaths among 351 infants, including 9 deaths in the perinatal period. Premature delivery was a strong predictor of mortality. The prevention of HIV transmission to infants is now possible in rural low-resource settings but the frequency of neonatal death among HIV-exposed infants remains extremely high, calling for new comprehensive interventions to reduce mortality in this growing population.