[Follow-up of children born to HIV seropositive mothers in Mali].

Introduction: The rate of mother-to-child transmission without perinatal antiretroviral treatment is 30 to 40%. Antiretroviral treatment of new-borns from HIV infected mother has proved effective in reducing rates of mother-to child transmission. Our aim was to follow newborns of HIV infected mothers for 18 months in three of preventive mother to child transmission (PMTCT) health centres in Bamako and one in Koulikoro.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study with follow-up of a cohort of newborns from HIV-positive mothers over an 18-month period. Follow-up was based on clinical, laboratory and psychosocial parameters for 18 months. A questionnaire was used to collect data. All analyses were performed using ACCESS version 3 software.

Results: A total of 157 HIV-infected mothers and 161 children were included. Artificial feeding was performed in 93.2% of children. Antiretroviral prophylaxis was received by 89.8% of children and 100% of mothers. 72.67% (117/161) of the children were followed for 18 months, 3.4% were infected by HIV, 20% were lost to follow-up and 9.31% died. During follow-up, 68.2% of women shared information about their status with their husbands; 83.2% of husbands performed an HIV screening test and 58.4% presented positive HIV serology.

Conclusion: Clinical, laboratory and psychosocial follow-up can be performed at PMTCT sites and may contribute to a reduction of mother-to-child transmission.