ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4138-2418
Current Organisation
University of Pretoria
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Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-03-2023
DOI: 10.3390/NU15061500
Abstract: Appropriate feeding practices are protective against malnutrition and poor growth. We compared feeding practices and growth in HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) between 6-12 months of age in urbanized African infants in South Africa. A repeated cross-sectional analysis was used to determine differences in infant feeding practices and anthropometric measures by HIV exposure status at 6, 9, and 12 months in the Siyakhula study. The study included 181 infants (86 HEU 95 HUU). Breastfeeding rates were lower in HEU vs. HUU infants at 9 (35.6% vs. 57.3% p = 0.013) and 12 months (24.7% vs. 48.0% p = 0.005). Introduction to early complementary foods was common (HEU = 16.2 ± 11.0 vs. HUU = 12.8 ± 9.3 weeks p = 0.118). Lower weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) and head circumference-for-age Z-scores (HCZ) were found in HEU infants at birth. At 6 months, WAZ, length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), HCZ, and mid-upper-arm circumference-for-age Z-scores (MUACAZ) were lower in HEU vs. HUU infants. At 9 months, lower WAZ, LAZ, and MUACAZ were found in HEU vs. HUU infants. At 12 months, lower WAZ, MUACAZ, and weight-for-length Z-scores (−0.2 ± 1.2 vs. 0.2 ± 1.2 p = 0.020) were observed. HEU infants had lower rates of breastfeeding and poorer growth compared to HUU infants. Maternal HIV exposure affects the feeding practices and growth of infants.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-12-2022
DOI: 10.3390/V14122745
Abstract: Maternal HIV exposure and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to placental insufficiency both carry major risks to early child growth. We compared the growth outcomes of children aged 18 months who had abnormal umbilical artery resistance indices (UmA-RI), as a marker of placental insufficiency, with a comparator group of children with normal UmA-RI during pregnancy, as mediated by maternal HIV infection. The cross-sectional study included 271 children, grouped into four subgroups based on HIV exposure and history of normal/abnormal UmA-RI, using available pregnancy and birth information. Standard procedures were followed to collect anthropometric data, and z-scores computed as per World Health Organization growth standards. Lower length-for-age z-scores (LAZ) were observed in children who were HIV-exposed-uninfected (CHEU) (−0.71 ± 1.23 p = 0.004) and who had abnormal UmA-RI findings (−0.68 ± 1.53 p 0.001). CHEU with abnormal UmA-RI had lower LAZ (−1.3 ± 1.3 p 0.001) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) (−0.64 ± 0.92 p = 0.014) compared to the control group. The prevalence of stunting was 40.0% in CHEU with abnormal UmA-RI and 16.0% in CHEU with normal UmA-RI (p 0.001 p = 0.016, respectively). In conclusion, maternal HIV exposure and placental insufficiency are independent risk factors for childhood stunting, with this risk potentiated when these two risk factors overlap.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Helen Mulol.