Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Stunting and its Associated Factors among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Children Who Receiving Anti-retroviral Therapy in Northwest Ethiopia: Multicenter Study

Abstract

Yihenew Sewale*, Nurilign Abebe Moges, Bitew Tefere Zewedie, Addisu Endale Gebeyew and Mastewal Giza

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus positive children are highly vulnerable for stunting and stunting is the most serious public health problems in human immunodeficiency virus-positive children who received antiretroviral therapy in the developing world particularly low and middle-income countries. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of stunting and its associated factors among human immunodeficiency positive children in public Hospitals Northwest, Ethiopia.

Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 372 HIV infected children. Data were collected systematically from selected participants by using interviewer administered structured and pre-tested questionnaires. We used Epi-data version 4.1 for data entery, and STATA Version 14.1 for data analysis. a p-value of <0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance with the corresponding 95% confidence interval. The goodness of fit (GOF) of the model was checked using Hosmer-Lemeshow GOF test. The p-value of the Hosmer-Lemeshow GOF test of this model is p-value greater than 0.05 which confirms that the model is correctly specified.

Results: The magnitude of stunting was found to be 45.2%, 95% CI (40.4-50.0). Being males (AOR:1.942, 95% CI:1.188, 3.175), age of the child 2-5 years old, opportunistic infections (AOR: 2.40,95%,CI: 1.61, 7.60), and fair/poor dietary diversity (AOR:1.832,95% CI:1.1280, 2.95) were found statically significant associated factors.

Conclusion: More than one-thrid of chlidern was stunted among human immunodeficiency virus-positive children received antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, early detection and treatment of opportunistic infections, control progression of HIV, educating and counseling the use of a diversified diet,and monitoring this situation was highly recommended.