title: Risk factors for anaemia among HIV infected children attending HIV care and treatment clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
abstract: There is paucity of data describing the risk factors for anaemia among HIV infected children in Tanzania. This cross sectional study aimed at determining the contributing factors for anaemia among HIV-infected children attending Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify possible factors associated with anaemia in HIV-infected children. In this study a total of 75 (44%) patients among 167 recruited HIV children aged 6 months to 59 months were found to be anaemic (Hg<11 g/dl). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that not being on HAART (OR 3.40, 95%CI (1.20-9.60), having CD4% <25% (OR 2.30, 95%CI (1.20-34.60), having a history of tuberculosis (TB) (OR 3.23, 95%CI (1.10-9.70) and having hookworm infestation (OR 5.97, 95%CI (1.92-18.4) were independent risk factors for anaemia among HIV infected children. The analyses also showed that being HIV positive for ≥ 2.5 years resulted into a low risk of severe anaemia compared to being HIV positive for < 2.5 years. Taking multivitamins (OR 0.07, 95%, CI (0.020-0.30) and antihelminthics (OR 0.27, 95%CI (0.10-0.74) were also protective against anaemia in children. Similar factors (with exception of using antihelmintics) were associated with severe anaemia. In conclusion the factors associated with anaemia in HIV infected children were multifactorial in nature. Efforts to correct anaemia in HIV infected children should include use of HAART and treatment of infections such as TB and hookworms.
authors.affiliation: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Medicine, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. makubi55@gmail.com
authors.forename: Abel N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Makubi
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mugus
authors.forename: Pius M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Magesa
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Amrana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quaresh
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology