Effects of undernutrition on mortality of HIV-infected children after initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Amare Kassaw; Bogale Chekole; Muluken Chanie Agimas; Molla Azmeraw; Biruk Beletew; Shegaw Zeleke; Worku Necho Asferi; Solomon Demis; Habtamu Shimeles Hailemeskel; Wubet Alebachew Bayih; Ermias Sisay Chane; Demewoz Kefale; Tigabu Munye Aytenew

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29308

Effects of undernutrition on mortality of HIV-infected children after initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Heliyon. 2024 Apr 5;10(7):e29308. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29308. eCollection 2024 Apr 15.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
² Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
⁵ Department of Adult Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
⁶ Department of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Undernutrition is the leading cause of mortality among children infected with HIV particularly in resource-deprived settings. Despite several studies were disclosed the effect of undernutrition on mortality of children living with HIV in Ethiopia, the findings were fragmented and inconclusive. Therefore, this review aimed to determine the pooled effects of undernutrition on mortality of children infected with HIV in Ethiopia.

Methods: The search were performed using international online electronic data bases (MEDLINE/though PubMed, Google scholar, Hinari, Scopus and open Google). The review included only retrospective/prospective cohort studies reporting the effects of undernutrition on mortality of children infected with HIV. Heterogeneity between included studies was assessed using Cochrane Q-test and the I² statistics. Sub-group analysis was done by study regions, sample size and publication year.

Results: A total of 1345 articles were identified from databases. Among these, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria and included in the study. Meta-analysis of 4 studies revealed that stunting has a significant effect on mortality of children infected with HIV (AHR: 3.36; 95 % CI: 2.95-3.77). Of 14 included studies, 6 articles indicated that wasting has a significant effect on mortality in children infected with HIV (AHR: 3.93; 95 % CI: 2.56-5.30) as compared to their counterparts. Furthermore, the pooled effect of 8 studies showed that underweight has 3.4 times hazard of death among children who lived with HIV as compared to well-nourished children.

Conclusion: This review revealed that undernutrition has deleterious effect on mortality of children infected with HIV/AIDS by disease progression and prone the children to serious opportunistic infections. From the study, the authors recommended that nutritional status of children on antiretroviral therapy need to be evaluated regularly.

Keywords: Children living with HIV; Effect; Ethiopia; Undernutrition.