Clinical parameters of children born to mothers on antiretroviral treatment in three Abidjan hospitals

Abstract

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV is a dynamic field. The latest updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the context of PMTCT date back to April 2012. The WHO recommends that low-and intermediate-resource countries introduce life-long triple therapy for HIV-positive women (WHO). The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between maternal serology and clinical parameters in newborns. It is a prospective, descriptive, retro study carried out on 529 HIV-positive and 467 HIV-negative women in three hospitals in the city of Abidjan. Clinical parameters were measured using a balance and a measuring cup, and blood samples were taken. Among the 543 exposed infants, 2 were found to be seropositive after three PCR tests. In 94.9% of seropositive women, delivery was vaginal. Most newborns were born at full term (98.9%) in seropositive patients, with 65.1% having a birth weight of between 2,500 and 3,500 g and a good apgar score (92.7%) at the first minute and (99.5%) at the fifth minute. Breastfeeding was the most common method of delivery, irrespective of the mother's serostatus: 94.3% for seropositive and 97.6% for seronegative mothers. In this study, the mother's serology had no influence on the clinical parameters of newborns on ARV treatment.