Weight gain of HIV-exposed, uninfected children born before and after introduction of the "Option B+" programme in Malawi.

Msukwa, Malango T; Estill, Janne; Haas, Andreas D; van Oosterhout, Joep J; Tenthani, Lyson; Davies, Mary-Ann; Tal, Kali; Phiri, Nozgechi; Spörri, Adrian; Mthiko, Bryan C; Chimbwandira, Frank; Keiser, Olivia (2018). Weight gain of HIV-exposed, uninfected children born before and after introduction of the "Option B+" programme in Malawi. AIDS, 32(15), pp. 2201-2208. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001942

Preview	Text Msukwa AIDS 2018_manuscript.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (230kB) | Preview
	Text Msukwa AIDS 2018.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (190kB)

OBJECTIVE

To compare birth weight and weight gain in HIV-exposed, uninfected infants up to 24 months old, who enrolled in the Malawian national HIV care clinic (HCC) programme either before or after Option B+ (OB+) was implemented.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

HIV-exposed infants enrol in the HCC programme as soon as possible after birth and are followed up to at least 24 months old. This analysis includes HIV-exposed, uninfected (HEU) infants with recorded birth weight, date of birth, gender and at least one follow-up weight measurement from 21 health facilities in central and southern Malawi (January 2010 - December 2014). Weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) were derived and compared by birth period using linear regression at birth and mixed effects models for postnatal weight gain up to 24 months old.

RESULTS

Of 6,845 HEU infants included in this study, 88.5% were born after OB+. The proportion of infants exposed in-utero to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly increased after OB+ was implemented, and infants were exposed to ART for a longer time. There was no significant difference in WAZ at birth (p = 0.654) among HEU infants by birth period, but postnatal weight gain was faster among HEU infants born in the Option B+ period than infants born pre-Option B+.

CONCLUSION

Birth weight was not affected by longer exposure to ART during pregnancy after OB+ was introduced, when weight gain in HEU infants was faster, possibly because their mothers were in better health.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

311 since deposited on 19 Jul 2018
47 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item