Trend of HIV seropositivity among children attending ICTC SMS Medical College Jaipur, Rajasthan

Abstract

Background: In India about 0.1 million children are living with HIV and most of these infections are acquired by perinatal transmission. The prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT) program aims to prevent the perinatal transmission by interruption of transmission at different levels. This study was conducted to see the trend of HIV seropositivity among children after the implementation of the PPTCT program. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude of pediatric HIV seropositivity and its time trend in last 11 years at a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: Children of aged less than 14 years attending the Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) were screened for HIV antibodies. A detailed history about age, sex, HIV serostatus of the parents, and history of blood transfusion was recorded. Statistical Analysis: The level of significance was recorded using P value. Results: Out of the 17,612 subjects, a total of 887 (5.03%) children were positive for HIV infection. Out of these 887 subjects, 567 were male children (m:f = 1.77:1) and most of them (59.9%) were of age less than 5 years. Perinatal transmission was the commonest mode of transmission. A decreasing trend of HIV seropositivity is observed among children of age less than 14 years after year 2005 (x 2 for trend = 503.445, P< 0.001). Conclusion: Despite all this, combined efforts are still needed to prevent new HIV infection, to keep their mothers healthy and alive, and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of HIV for children.