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Background <p>Mother-to-child Exposure to HIV (MCE) is a growing concern. While antiretroviral therapy has reduced vertical transmission rates, the inflammatory response and adverse neurobehavioural outcomes in children are conflicting. Thus, this review aims to synthesise existing evidence between HIV exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in MCE compared to unexposed children.</p> Methods <p>A comprehensive search was conducted to screen systematic reviews until July of 2025 were investigated, investigating the relationship between HIV exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders. The PECO framework guided eligibility criteria. PubMed, Cochrane and LILACS were used with search strategies based on terms such as <i>“Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical”</i>, <i>“HIV”</i>, <i>“Child Development Disorders, Pervasive”</i>, and <i>“Developmental Disabilities”</i>. Data extraction included study characteristics, methodologies, and key findings. Risk of bias was assessed using AMSTAR-2, and Hedge’s g was used in meta-analysis.</p> Results <p>The review included four articles focusing on motor, cognitive, and language outcomes. MCE children showed no statistical differences with MCU population. Studies in resource-limited settings reported more cognitive, pronounced deficits in MCE children.</p> Conclusion <p>MCE children show not statistically significant neurodevelopmental outcomes in our meta-analysis. Heterogeneity in assessment tools and limited data on demographic and socioeconomic profile constrain definitive conclusions. Further research addressing confounders is crucial for developing targeted interventions.</p> Impact <p><UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> <p>This study highlights growing evidence on mother-to-child exposure to HIV may have subtle to no neurodevelopmental differences when compared to their unexposed peers, but data are heterogeneous and conflicting.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>This underscores the importance of new studies to comprehend and address risk to intervention necessities of Mother-to-child HIV exposure.</p> </ItemContent> </UnorderedList></p>

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Mother-to-child HIV exposure and its relation with neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月4日

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  • Carlos Eduardo Freitas Dantas,
  • Gabriel Arcoverde de Siqueira Lidington Lins,
  • Arthur Gabriel Alves Soares,
  • Laiana Azevedo Quagliato

摘要

Background

Mother-to-child Exposure to HIV (MCE) is a growing concern. While antiretroviral therapy has reduced vertical transmission rates, the inflammatory response and adverse neurobehavioural outcomes in children are conflicting. Thus, this review aims to synthesise existing evidence between HIV exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in MCE compared to unexposed children.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted to screen systematic reviews until July of 2025 were investigated, investigating the relationship between HIV exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders. The PECO framework guided eligibility criteria. PubMed, Cochrane and LILACS were used with search strategies based on terms such as “Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical”, “HIV”, “Child Development Disorders, Pervasive”, and “Developmental Disabilities”. Data extraction included study characteristics, methodologies, and key findings. Risk of bias was assessed using AMSTAR-2, and Hedge’s g was used in meta-analysis.

Results

The review included four articles focusing on motor, cognitive, and language outcomes. MCE children showed no statistical differences with MCU population. Studies in resource-limited settings reported more cognitive, pronounced deficits in MCE children.

Conclusion

MCE children show not statistically significant neurodevelopmental outcomes in our meta-analysis. Heterogeneity in assessment tools and limited data on demographic and socioeconomic profile constrain definitive conclusions. Further research addressing confounders is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Impact

This study highlights growing evidence on mother-to-child exposure to HIV may have subtle to no neurodevelopmental differences when compared to their unexposed peers, but data are heterogeneous and conflicting.

This underscores the importance of new studies to comprehend and address risk to intervention necessities of Mother-to-child HIV exposure.