Profile of Children Born to HIV-Positive Mothers Followed-up in the Borgou/Alibori Regional University Teaching Hospital from 2005 to 2015

Abstract

Introduction: Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV is the best strategy for fighting pediatric HIV in developing countries. This study's main objective was to describe the outcome of children born to HIV positive mothers, attended and followed up through the PMTCT program in the Borgou/Alibori Regional University Teaching Hospital (CHUD-Borgou/Alibori) from 2005 to 2015. Secondly, it aimed to identify factors associated with mother-to-child transmission of HIV at 18 months of age. Patients and Methods: This research work is a cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of a cohort of children born to HIV-infected mothers and followed up in the pediatric ward of the Borgou/Alibori Regional University Teaching Hospital. It was conducted from May to December 2016 on the basis of data retrieval from medical records and registers. Results: Total of 1234 children was included in the study. Exclusive breastfeeding was the main source of nutrition for 91.6% of children. Antiretroviral prophylaxis was received by 82.7% of children at birth. 49.4% of the 1234 children (610/1234) were followed up till 18 months of age; 36.5% were lost to follow-up and 4.1% died. Overall rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission was 5.6% (34/610), of which 1.8% (9/509) was among children who received antiretroviral prophylaxis at birth. Two predictive factors for mother-to-child transmission of HIV were found: absence of clean and safe childbirth and lack of antiretroviral prophylaxis in children at birth. Conclusion: Improved antenatal care quality and efficient childbirth management with early mothers' adherence to pediatric follow-up may help reduce vertical HIV transmission in this study environment.