Objectives: To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants in a peri-urban South African population. HEU infants living in Africa face unique biological and environmental risks, but uncertainty remains regarding their neurodevelopmental outcome. This is partly due to lack of well-matched HUU comparison groups needed to adjust for confounding factors.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of infants enrolled at birth from a low-risk midwife obstetric facility. At 12 months of age, HEU and HUU infant growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes were compared. Growth was evaluated as WHO weight-for-age, length-for-age, weight-for-length and head-circumference-for-age Z-scores. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated using the Bayley scales of Infant Development III (BSID) and Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB).
Results: Fifty-eight HEU and 38 HUU infants were evaluated at 11-14 months of age. Performance on the BSID did not differ in any of the domains between HEU and HUU infants. The cognitive, language and motor scores were within the average range (US standardised norms). Seven (12%) HEU and 1 (2.6%) HUU infant showed social withdrawal on the ADBB (P = 0.10), while 15 (26%) HEU and 4 (11%) HUU infants showed decreased vocalisation (P = 0.06). There were no growth differences. Three HEU and one HUU infant had minor neurological signs, while eight HEU and two HUU infants had macrocephaly.
Conclusions: Although findings on the early neurodevelopmental outcome of HEU infants are reassuring, minor differences in vocalisation and on neurological examination indicate a need for reassessment at a later age.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13006 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
January 2025
Department of Maternal Health Care, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
There is little research on anemia and vitamin D deficiency in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children. This study was aimed to describe and compare the prevalence of anemia and vitamin D inadequacy in HEU children and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) children, and to examine the associations of HIV exposure with anemia and vitamin D inadequacy. This was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study nested within the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV program in Hunan Province during July and September 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Immunol
December 2024
Immunology Unit, Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, UZ-FMHS), Harare, Zimbabwe.
Background: HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children are at increased risk of morbidity during the first years of life. Although the immune responses of HEU infants in early-life are relatively well described, studies of natural killer (NK) cells in older HEU children are lacking. NK cell subsets were analysed in HEU children and compared to those in HIV unexposed uninfected (HUU) children aged ~ five years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Med
December 2024
The Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) Network, Nairobi, Kenya.
Vaccines (Basel)
November 2024
Vaccines for Africa Initiative, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
There is limited evidence comparing hepatitis A seroprevalence among HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU), HIV-infected (HIV), and unexposed uninfected (HUU) children. This compromises rational vaccine decision-making. This study comprised a retrospective health facility-based population of children aged 1 month-12 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMatern Child Nutr
January 2025
Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Factors affecting the growth of HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU) children are multi-factorial, with limited information available on the dietary intake from 6 months. This study compared the dietary intake, micronutrient composition of breastmilk, and growth of HEU and HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) infants aged 6 and 12 months in an urban setting. A repeated cross-sectional study used structured questionnaires to collect socio-demographic, dietary intake, food group data, and anthropometric measurements in the Siyakhula study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!