Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Jun 2015)

Prevalence of and risk factors for late diagnosis of HIV infection in Brazilian infants and children

  • Lígia Mara Dolce de Lemos,
  • Andrew Anglemyer,
  • Victor Santana Santos,
  • Ricardo Queiroz Gurgel,
  • George Williams Rutherford

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0257-2014
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48, no. 3
pp. 326 – 330

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: Late human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis is an important cause of HIV-related morbidity and mortality in infants and children. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected children diagnosed in Sergipe, in northeastern Brazil, between 2002 and 2011 aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for late HIV diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 55 infants and children with confirmed infection, 42 (76.5%) were diagnosed at ≥ 12 months old. No antiretroviral prophylaxis during delivery (OR 5.48, 95% CI 1.11-32.34) was associated with late diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: More than 75% of cases were diagnosed late. Efforts are needed to improve early HIV diagnosis in infants.

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