HIV STATUS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF CHILDREN BORN TO HIV POSITIVE MOTHER ON ART AT GAMBELLA PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA, 2024
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Background
In the 21 Global Plan priority countries in SSA, including Ethiopia, 110,000 children are newly infected with HIV annually. Most pediatric infections occur during breastfeeding through vertical transmission, with a transmission risk of 15%-45%, which can be reduced to 5% with effective interventions. Despite declining MTCT rates in Ethiopia, recent studies still report significant infection rates in infants.
Objective
HIV status and its associated factors in children born to HIV-positive mothers on art at Gambella Public Hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia, 2024.
Methods
This was an institution-based cross-sectional study in which three public hospitals in the Gmbella region were included. The sample size for this study was determined via the single population proportion formula and EPIINFO software, resulting in 250 participants after accounting for a 10% nonresponse rate. Three hospitals were randomly selected, and proportional allocation on the basis of the average two-month ART clinic visits was used to determine the sample sizes, ensuring a comprehensive representation. The data were collected via the interview method. The data were entered into Epi-Data 4.6.0.2 and exported to SPSS version 26.00 for clearing and analysis, and logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with HIV status. Using 95% CIs, variables with a p value <0.05 were identified as statistically significant factors.
Results
This study revealed that 7% of children born to HIV-positive mothers were also infected with HIV. Mothers aged 30–39 years (AOR=8.7), place of residence (rural) (AOR=6.7), positive results for syphilis (AOR=19.6), and unplanned pregnancies (AOR=10.4) were significantly associated with the outcome variable.
Conclusion
This study revealed a 7% HIV infection rate among children born to HIV-positive mothers in Gambella, with maternal age, rural residence, syphilis-positive mothers, and unplanned pregnancies associated with HIV infection.
