Scholarlink

Background <p>Despite the availability of lifelong anti-retroviral medication (ART) and improved prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) activities, MTCT remains a major factor contributing to new pediatric infections. As a result of service gaps and time instability, the proportion of HIV-positive exposed children has persisted, even with a reduction in the overall incidence of the infection globally. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate HIV positivity rate, MTCT and associated factors among HIV exposed infants in Western Ethiopia.</p> Methodology <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2,868 infants whose specimens were submitted for EID at the Nekemte Public Health Research and Referral Laboratory Center from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2025. Data were extracted from the EID database, entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and exported to Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to characterize the study population. To identify factors associated with the rate of MTCT of HIV, logistic regression analysis was employed. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were calculated to assess the strength of associations, with statistical significance defined as a p-value of less than 0.05.</p> Results <p>The mean age of the infants was 8.5 (± 5.4), and 52% were male. The overall HIV positivity rate was 3.5%, increasing from 1.7% in 2016 to a peak of 6.3% in 2018, before declining to 1.9% by 2022 after a transient rise in 2021 (5.1%). Significant determinants of MTCT included being newly initiated to ART (AOR = 5.603; 95% CI: 2.710-11.587), unknown maternal ART status (AOR = 4.125; 95% CI: 2.143–7.941), absence of PMTCT intervention (AOR = 2.334; 95% CI: 1.199–4.546), and absence of infant prophylaxis (AOR = 7.062; 95% CI: 3.918–12.727).</p> Conclusion <p>The study found fluctuating trends in MTCT of HIV over the ten years. Strengthening comprehensive PMTCT services and ensuring consistent ART coverage are critical to eliminating pediatric HIV.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

HIV positivity rate, mother-to-child transmission and associated factors among HIV exposed infants in Western Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

查看全文
  • Abdi Diriba,
  • Endalu Tesfaye Guteta,
  • Kenate Bekele,
  • Gadisa Chewaka,
  • Kume Tesfaye,
  • Demeke Jabessa

摘要

Background

Despite the availability of lifelong anti-retroviral medication (ART) and improved prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) activities, MTCT remains a major factor contributing to new pediatric infections. As a result of service gaps and time instability, the proportion of HIV-positive exposed children has persisted, even with a reduction in the overall incidence of the infection globally. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate HIV positivity rate, MTCT and associated factors among HIV exposed infants in Western Ethiopia.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2,868 infants whose specimens were submitted for EID at the Nekemte Public Health Research and Referral Laboratory Center from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2025. Data were extracted from the EID database, entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and exported to Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to characterize the study population. To identify factors associated with the rate of MTCT of HIV, logistic regression analysis was employed. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were calculated to assess the strength of associations, with statistical significance defined as a p-value of less than 0.05.

Results

The mean age of the infants was 8.5 (± 5.4), and 52% were male. The overall HIV positivity rate was 3.5%, increasing from 1.7% in 2016 to a peak of 6.3% in 2018, before declining to 1.9% by 2022 after a transient rise in 2021 (5.1%). Significant determinants of MTCT included being newly initiated to ART (AOR = 5.603; 95% CI: 2.710-11.587), unknown maternal ART status (AOR = 4.125; 95% CI: 2.143–7.941), absence of PMTCT intervention (AOR = 2.334; 95% CI: 1.199–4.546), and absence of infant prophylaxis (AOR = 7.062; 95% CI: 3.918–12.727).

Conclusion

The study found fluctuating trends in MTCT of HIV over the ten years. Strengthening comprehensive PMTCT services and ensuring consistent ART coverage are critical to eliminating pediatric HIV.