Outcomes Among Children Enrolled in HIV Care in Mozambique 2009-2013.
Scale-up of HIV care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) services for children has expanded access, but significant gaps and challenges remain. We examined lost to follow-up (LTF) and mortality in a large cohort of children enrolled in HIV care in Mozambique.



Routinely collected medical data on children 0-14 years enrolled in care 2009-2013 at ICAP-supported health facilities in 5 provinces of Mozambique were used. Children not receiving ART (pre-ART) were considered LTF if they did not a have a visit within 12 months of the end of data collection; for those receiving ART, LTF was no visit within 6 months. Competing risk and Kaplan-Meier estimators were used, respectively, to estimate pre-ART and on ART LTF and mortality.



A total of 13,695 children enrolled in HIV care at 64 health facilities (48.6%, <2 years), and 7733 (56.5%) initiated ART during follow-up. Cumulative incidence of pre-ART LTF was 32.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 32.1-33.7] and 34.4% (95% CI: 33.6-35.2) by 12 and 24 months, respectively, and was highest in children <5 years (12-month LTF in children 2-4 years, 34.2%, 95% CI: 32.6-35.9). Pre-ART mortality at 12 months was 3.3% (95% CI: 3.0-3.6) and was highest in children <2 years (4.1%, 95% CI: 3.6-4.6). On ART, LTF was 28.6% (95% CI: 27.6-29.7) and 37.6 (95% CI: 36.4-38.8) at 12 and 24 months, and 12 months mortality after ART was 8.0% (95% CI: 7.3-8.7).



High rates of LTF were observed in this large cohort of HIV-infected children accessing care in Mozambique both before and after ART initiation highlighting the urgent need for interventions to improve retention in routine care settings.
From the *ICAP-Columbia University, †Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York; and ‡US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maputo, Mozambique.
Chloe A
CA
Teasdale
Jingyan
J
Yang
Beatriz
B
Thome
Isabelle
I
Yersin
Thresia
T
Sebastian
Serena
S
Brusamento
Maria
M
Lahuerta
Kebba M
KM
Jobarteh
Elaine J
EJ
Abrams
D000293:Adolescent; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D009073:Mozambique / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents