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HIV-Exposed Children: Determinants of Early Diagnosis and Survival in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Received: 25 December 2020     Accepted: 7 January 2021     Published: 22 January 2021
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Abstract

Introduction. Successful prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) requires early diagnosis, consistent access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and regular health care during and after pregnancy. This study assessed the determinants of early HIV diagnosis by children born to HIV-positive (HIV+) mothers in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Methodology. Data from 230 HIV+ mothers screened under the PMTCT program between July 2015 and December 2017 were extracted from the databases of 31 Health Zones (HZ) of Kongo Central province. Data detailing laboratory and anthropometric findings, morbidity, and mortality were collected from each exposed child. The determinants of inaccessibility to early diagnosis were identified using logistic regression. Results. The mothers' mean age was 32.4 years, and 90.9% were on ART; 68.8% of children were older than 12 months at diagnosis. Diagnosis during the first 6 months of the child’s life was critical. Malnutrition was found in almost 90% of the children. Determinants of non-access to an early diagnosis were mothers who attained a primary education level and did not disclose their HIV status. Conclusion. All possible interventions should be considered to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. To ensure a child’s survival to their first birthday, early diagnosis should be performed soon after birth to an HIV+ mother and ART should be initiated.

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14
Page(s) 32-39
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HIV-exposed Infants, Determinant, Diagnosis, Survival

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Lukanu Ngwala Philippe, Musiti Ngolo Jean Robert, Nlandu Niati Jean Destin, Metamonika Adolphine, Matondo Luzunga Guy Roger, et al. (2021). HIV-Exposed Children: Determinants of Early Diagnosis and Survival in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Central African Journal of Public Health, 7(1), 32-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14

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    ACS Style

    Lukanu Ngwala Philippe; Musiti Ngolo Jean Robert; Nlandu Niati Jean Destin; Metamonika Adolphine; Matondo Luzunga Guy Roger, et al. HIV-Exposed Children: Determinants of Early Diagnosis and Survival in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2021, 7(1), 32-39. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14

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    AMA Style

    Lukanu Ngwala Philippe, Musiti Ngolo Jean Robert, Nlandu Niati Jean Destin, Metamonika Adolphine, Matondo Luzunga Guy Roger, et al. HIV-Exposed Children: Determinants of Early Diagnosis and Survival in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2021;7(1):32-39. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14,
      author = {Lukanu Ngwala Philippe and Musiti Ngolo Jean Robert and Nlandu Niati Jean Destin and Metamonika Adolphine and Matondo Luzunga Guy Roger and Situakibanza Hypolite},
      title = {HIV-Exposed Children: Determinants of Early Diagnosis and Survival in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo},
      journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {32-39},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20210701.14},
      abstract = {Introduction. Successful prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) requires early diagnosis, consistent access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and regular health care during and after pregnancy. This study assessed the determinants of early HIV diagnosis by children born to HIV-positive (HIV+) mothers in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Methodology. Data from 230 HIV+ mothers screened under the PMTCT program between July 2015 and December 2017 were extracted from the databases of 31 Health Zones (HZ) of Kongo Central province. Data detailing laboratory and anthropometric findings, morbidity, and mortality were collected from each exposed child. The determinants of inaccessibility to early diagnosis were identified using logistic regression. Results. The mothers' mean age was 32.4 years, and 90.9% were on ART; 68.8% of children were older than 12 months at diagnosis. Diagnosis during the first 6 months of the child’s life was critical. Malnutrition was found in almost 90% of the children. Determinants of non-access to an early diagnosis were mothers who attained a primary education level and did not disclose their HIV status. Conclusion. All possible interventions should be considered to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. To ensure a child’s survival to their first birthday, early diagnosis should be performed soon after birth to an HIV+ mother and ART should be initiated.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - HIV-Exposed Children: Determinants of Early Diagnosis and Survival in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
    AU  - Lukanu Ngwala Philippe
    AU  - Musiti Ngolo Jean Robert
    AU  - Nlandu Niati Jean Destin
    AU  - Metamonika Adolphine
    AU  - Matondo Luzunga Guy Roger
    AU  - Situakibanza Hypolite
    Y1  - 2021/01/22
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14
    T2  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 32
    EP  - 39
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5781
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210701.14
    AB  - Introduction. Successful prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) requires early diagnosis, consistent access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and regular health care during and after pregnancy. This study assessed the determinants of early HIV diagnosis by children born to HIV-positive (HIV+) mothers in the Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Methodology. Data from 230 HIV+ mothers screened under the PMTCT program between July 2015 and December 2017 were extracted from the databases of 31 Health Zones (HZ) of Kongo Central province. Data detailing laboratory and anthropometric findings, morbidity, and mortality were collected from each exposed child. The determinants of inaccessibility to early diagnosis were identified using logistic regression. Results. The mothers' mean age was 32.4 years, and 90.9% were on ART; 68.8% of children were older than 12 months at diagnosis. Diagnosis during the first 6 months of the child’s life was critical. Malnutrition was found in almost 90% of the children. Determinants of non-access to an early diagnosis were mothers who attained a primary education level and did not disclose their HIV status. Conclusion. All possible interventions should be considered to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. To ensure a child’s survival to their first birthday, early diagnosis should be performed soon after birth to an HIV+ mother and ART should be initiated.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Family Medicine and Primary Care Department, School of Medicine, Protestant University of Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Primary Health Care in Rural Area, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Primary Health Care in Rural Area, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Primary Health Care in Rural Area, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Primary Health Care in Rural Area, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Infectious Diseases Department, School of Medicine, Kinshasa University, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

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