Human immunodeficiency virus infection, diarrheal disease and sociodemographic predictors of child growth.
OBJECTIVE
To compare growth patterns between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and -uninfected preschool children. To examine the associations between diarrheal and respiratory infections, sociodemographic factors and growth.


METHODS
A longitudinal study was conducted among 524 children who were 6-60 mo of age at recruitment. Information on sociodemographic characteristics was collected at baseline from the caregiver. Hemoglobin, malaria infection and HIV status of the children were assessed from a blood sample. Monthly height (length if <24 mo) and weight measurements were obtained, and clinical assessments carried out, during an average 12 mo follow-up period. Yearly increments in height and weight were compared by HIV status, incidence of diarrhea and respiratory infections, and levels of sociodemographic variables.


RESULTS
After adjusting for maternal education, anemia and vitamin A supplementation, HIV infection was related to 2.8 cm [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.6, 5.0] and 1.3 kg (95% CI 0.0, 2.5) lower yearly length and weight gains, respectively, in children who were between 6 and 11 mo old at baseline. Among children who were 12-23 mo old at recruitment, HIV infection was associated with 0.6 kg (95% CI 0.1, 1.0) less yearly weight gain. HIV infection was not related to linear or ponderal growth in children >24 mo old. Maternal illiteracy, severe child anemia and episodes of acute diarrhea were additional risk factors for growth delay in length.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection is associated with linear and ponderal growth retardation in children aged <24 mo. Additional predictors of linear growth retardation include preventable conditions such as poor maternal education, child anemia and diarrheal disease.
Villamor
E
E
Department of Nutrition, Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. evillamo@hsph.harvard.edu
Fataki
M R
MR
Bosch
R J
RJ
Mbise
R L
RL
Fawzi
W W
WW
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors