Food insecurity and CD4% Among HIV+ children in Gaborone, Botswana
Mendoza, J.A.; Matshaba, M.; Makhanda, J.; Liu, Y.; Boitshwarelo, M.; Anabwani, G.M.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 66(4): 414-418
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 1944-7884 PMID: 24798763 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000190Document Number: 623290
We investigated the association between household food insecurity (HFI) and CD4% among 2-6-year old HIV+ outpatients (n = 78) at the Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Center of Excellence in Gaborone, Botswana. HFI was assessed by a validated survey. CD4% data were abstracted from the medical record. We used multiple linear regression with CD4% (dependent variable), HFI (independent variable), and controlled for sociodemographic and clinical covariates. Multiple linear regression showed a significant main effect for HFI [beta = -0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.0 to -0.1] and child gender (beta = 5.6, 95% CI: 1.3 to 9.8). Alleviating food insecurity may improve pediatric HIV outcomes in Botswana and similar Sub-Saharan settings.