Mother-to-child transmission of HIV and its predictors among HIV-exposed infants at Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon.

Victor N Fondoh,Njong A Mom

doi:10.4102/ajlm.v6i1.589

Abstract

BackgroundMother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, has been a major global public health burden. Despite the use of antiretroviral prophylaxis by HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants, safe obstetric practice and safe infant feeding habits in the prevention of MTCT of HIV, the prevalence of HIV among HIV-exposed infants is still high in Cameroon.ObjectiveOur objectives were to determine the prevalence, assess the predictors and determine the effect of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on MTCT of HIV at the regional hospital in Bamenda, Cameroon.MethodsThis was a retrospective study. Secondary data from 877 HIV-exposed infants aged ≤ 72 weeks were extracted from the records between January 2008 and December 2014. The predictors and effect of cART on MTCT of HIV were analysed using a multivariable logistic regression model and risk analysis, respectively.ResultsOut of 877 HIV-exposed infants, 62 were positive for HIV, giving a prevalence of 7.1%. Maternal antiretroviral intervention and infant age group were statistically significant predictors of MTCT of HIV. HIV-positive mothers who were on cART were 2.49 times less likely to transmit HIV than those who were not on cART.ConclusionIn order to reduce the prevalence of HIV among HIV-exposed infants, maternal antiretroviral intervention should be targeted and the use of cART by HIV-positive pregnant women should be encouraged.

Highlights

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV refers to vertical transmission of HIV from an HIVpositive mother to her baby at one or more of the following stages: pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding.[1,2]
A total of 877 HIV-exposed infants with HIV results were included in the analysis, and 344 were excluded
The high prevalence might be due to the fact that, Regional Hospital Bamenda (RHB) is a level-two referral hospital with a high influx of patients resulting from the availability of specialised and satisfactory services including the laboratory, paediatric, obstetric and gynecological services)

Summary

Introduction

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV refers to vertical transmission of HIV from an HIVpositive mother to her baby at one or more of the following stages: pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding.[1,2] Globally, this accounts for 90% of HIV infections in children under the age of 15 years.[3]. The risk is reduced to 5% in breastfeeding populations[5] and less than 2% in non-breastfeeding populations.[3] One-third of HIV-positive children die within one year of birth and half before their second birthday without intervention.[6,7] In 2012, Cameroon registered an 8.4% HIV prevalence in HIV-exposed infants with the north-west region registering 3.7%.8. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, has been a major global public health burden. Despite the use of antiretroviral prophylaxis by HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants, safe obstetric practice and safe infant feeding habits in the prevention of MTCT of HIV, the prevalence of HIV among HIV-exposed infants is still high in Cameroon

Results

Discussion

Conclusion