Five-Year Survival Trends and Outcomes among HIV-Exposed Children Follow up in a Northern Benin Tertiary Facility

Abstract

authors suggested higher risk mortality among those children [1,5]. Since 2012, Benin has taken action in eliminating MTCT. The residual risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is currently estimated at 6.2% at national level [6].The pediatric unit of Borgou/ Alibori Regional Teaching Hospital in Northern Benin has been carrying PMTCT activities since 2005 with an ever-rising active population of exposed children. After more than a decade of activity, the authors focused on the survival at 5 years of HIV-exposed children and its associated factors.Introduction: HIV prevention emergence has significantly helped in reducing the risk of Mother-to-child transmission. This work is aimed at determining the survival rate at 5 years of HIV-exposed children follow up in the pediatric unit of Borgou/Alibori Regional Teaching Hospital in Northern Benin Republic. Patients and Methods: It was a descriptive cohort study with an analytical purpose covering five years from 2011 to 2016. It involved 121 HIV-exposed children. Kaplan-Meier method was used to make an estimation of survival probabilities. Survival trends were compared with Log-rank test. Cox regression test was used to identify the factors associated with child deaths. Results: On inclusion, the mean age for children was 35 days ±6 days and sex ratio estimated at 1.58. Survival rate at 5 years was 81%. Survival probability at 18 months and 60 months was 0.8264 and 0.8099, respectively. Deaths involved 23 children (19%). Factors associated with deaths were maternal age between 20 and 25 years (p=0.024), trade as mother's profession (p<0.01), irregular follow-up (p<0.001) and positive PCR (p<0.001). Conclusion:In order to ensure better survival of HIV-exposed child, it is necessary to improve PMTCT quality. Patients and Methods Type of study, Survey period and Study populationThis work is a descriptive and analytical cohort monitoring study. The survey was carried out over a three-month period running from April 1 to June 30, 2017. It involved children born to HIV-positive mothers followed up within the framework of PMCT in the pediatric unit of Borgou/Alibori Regional Teaching Hospital between January 2010 and December 31, 2011, and who have reached 5 years of age.