Evaluation of the Nutritional State of Children and Teenagers Infected by HIV Treated in a University Hospital in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of our study was to evaluate the nutritional status of HIV-infected children followed at a university pediatrics department in Abidjan. Method: This cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was conducted from January to March 2013 in the pediatric department of the university teaching hospital of Cocody and concerned pediatrics HIV/AIDS cases. Children of 0-59 months (group A) and those above 59 months (group B) formed two groups. Results: Two hundred and twenty-two children were assessed during this period. The median age was 105 months and the sex ratio of 1.09. More than half of the children were from modest backgrounds (52.7%) or orphans (53.9%). At enrollment in the cohort, they were mostly symptomatic (77.0%), had immune deficiencies (76.5%), anemia (74,0%) and were on Anti-retrovirals (ARV) therapy (98.1%). The prevalence of malnutrition was higher in group A (46.6%) than in group B (38.4%). Isolated chronic malnutrition was the most frequent clinical form of the two groups (20% and 19.7%). In group A, seven children were suffering of acute malnutrition alone (15.5%) and five children presented with wasting and stunting (11.11%). In Group B, underweight accounted for 10.7% of cases, the underweight and stunting of growth were associated with 8 children (4.5%). The main risk factors for malnutrition were presence of immune deficiency for acute malnutrition (OR=2.80, IC [1.32-5.94.], p<0.01) and chronic malnutrion (OR=3.13, IC [1.62-6.04.], p=0.00) and delayed start of ARV treatment for chronic malnutrition (OR=0.47, IC [0.25-0.88], p=0.01). Conclusion: Due to delayed diagnoses of HIV in children; chronic malnutrition remains common among them, whatever their age. The activities of nutritional care and support are essential in the management of this infection.