Objectives: To identify risk factors, including maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART), for diarrhea in Tanzanian children exposed to HIV during the first 2 years of life.
Study design: Using generalized estimating equations, we analyzed data from a cohort of 2387 Tanzanian children exposed to HIV from age 6 weeks to 2 years, as well as data from their mothers, to determine risk factors for diarrhea in children. Mothers recorded diarrhea in a diary and reported results at visits scheduled every four weeks.
Results: Body mass index was ≥18.5 in 95.6% of mothers. World Health Organization HIV stage was 1/2 for 1255 (87.8%) mothers. ART was received by 24.3% of mothers, most initiating ART during pregnancy. At baseline (6 weeks of age) 264 (11.3%) children were infected with HIV. In children whose mothers received ART, the relative risk of diarrhea in children was 0.79 (95% CI 0.68-0.92), after we adjusted for multiple factors, including child HIV status and exclusive breastfeeding duration. Exclusive breastfeeding (relative risk 0.67, 95% CI 0.56-0.80) also was protective.
Conclusion: Our results provide additional support to increase ART coverage for all pregnant mothers, to control clinical HIV progression, reduce perinatal HIV infection, but also to reduce the risk of a major cause of death and morbidity in young children worldwide.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00197730.
Keywords: ART; HIV; breastfeeding; pediatrics; sub-Saharan Africa.
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