Abstract:
We assessed age-specific CD4 T-cell counts and their determinants among Tanzanian children born to
HIV-infected mothers to address a major research gap. A total of 474 HIV-uninfected and 69 HIVinfected
children were followed until age of 12 months. Maternal predictors were measured during
pregnancy and child predictors at birth and throughout the follow up. Child CD4 T-cell counts were
evaluated at the age of 3 months and subsequent 3-month intervals; they decreased linearly among HIVinfected
( ¼–8 cells per week; 95% CI –12 to –4; P¼0.0003) and increased linearly among HIVuninfected
children ( ¼ 4 cells/week; 95% CI 2–7; P¼0.0008). Decreased child counts were predicted
by low child anthropometry, maternal HIV stage 2, and maternal mid-upper arm circumference
<27 cm among HIV-infected children; and by weight-for-height <–2 z-score, maternal HIV stage 2,
maternal erythrocyte sedimentation rate <81 mm/h and maternal haemoglobin <8.5 g/dl among HIVuninfected
children. The maternal and child predictors described may serve as intervention targets
among HIV-exposed children.
Introduction
