Differences in growth trajectories in breastfed HIV-exposed uninfected and HIV-unexposed infants in Kenya: An observational cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Children who are HIV-exposed and uninfected (CHEU) are at increased risk for poor growth compared to children who are HIV-unexposed (CHU). There are limited data on growth among CHEU in the era of preferred dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV (WLWH). We aimed to compare child growth outcomes in the first two years of life between breastfed CHEU and CHU, and to examine maternal HIV factors associated with growth in CHEU.

Methods and findings

We enrolled pregnant women in Kenya and followed them with their child to age 24 months. We measured anthropometry within 7 days of birth, at 3 and 6 weeks, and months 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24. We compared length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ

SUBMITTER: Tiwari R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12578329 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature