HIV Prevalence in Malnourished Children in Niger
Author Information
Author(s): Madec Yoann, Germanaud David, Moya-Alvarez Violeta, Alkassoum Wafa, Issa Aichatou, Amadou Morou, Tchiombiano Stephanie, Pizzocolo Cecilia, Huber Florence, Diallo Sanata, Abdoulaye-Mamadou Roubanatou
Primary Institution: Unité d'Epidémiologie des maladies Emergentes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of HIV among children hospitalized for severe malnutrition in Niger?
Conclusion
Around 9% of children hospitalized for severe malnutrition were HIV infected, highlighting the need for wider access to HIV testing in this population.
Supporting Evidence
- HIV testing was accepted in 470 out of 477 children hospitalized for severe malnutrition.
- The duration of renutrition was longer in HIV-positive children compared to HIV-negative children.
- Mortality rates during renutrition were not significantly different between HIV-positive and HIV-negative children.
Takeaway
About 9 out of every 100 kids in the hospital for not getting enough food also have HIV, so we should check them for it more often.
Methodology
Retrospective study of children under 5 hospitalized for severe malnutrition, with HIV testing and analysis of renutrition duration and mortality.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to the referral process and the high acceptance rate of HIV testing.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and based on medical records, which may introduce measurement errors.
Participant Demographics
Children under 5 years old, with a median age of 13 months; 55.3% boys and 44.7% girls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 6.2–11.5
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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