Factors associated with HIV-positive sero-status among exposed infants attending care at health facilities in Bahir Dar administration, Ethiopia: Evidence from medical records

Abstract

One of the health problems in Ethiopia is the high rate of HIV morbidity and mortality among pregnant and lactating women, and their infants. Therefore, this study aims to assess factors associated with HIV-positive sero-status among exposed infants attending care at health facilities in Bahir Dar administration, Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was carried at prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV clinics in Bahir Dar administration, Ethiopia. The study participants were HIV-exposed infants enrolled at these clinics from 1 January to 30 December 2018. The data were taken from PMTCT logbooks and patient medical records. Data entered into Epi Info (V 3.5.1) and analysed by SPSS (V 20.0). Both bivariate and multivariate analyses carried out to identify factors associated with mother-to-child transmission of HIV. A total of 477 infant medical records were included in the study. The transmission of HIV from mother to child was 27 (5.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1, 8.3). Home delivery (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8, 10.2), infant not receiving antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis at birth (AOR = 4.1, 95% CI: 2.4, 13.5), episiotomy (AOR = 5.0, 95% CI: 2.2, 13.1) and mixed infant feeding practices (AOR = 4.4, 95% CI: 2.1, 14.4) were significantly associated with maternal to child transmission of HIV in the study.The rate of HIV infection among infants born from HIV-positive mothers was high. Factors associated with HIV sero-status of HIV exposed infants were home delivery, mixed feeding, episiotomy and ARV prophylaxis at birth.

Keywords

• factors
• hiv sero-status
• infant
• ethiopia