Background: Despite the benefits of breastfeeding as against the risk of formula feeding to HIV-exposed infants and proficient counselling to HIV sero-positive mothers, some may still opt for breast milk substitutes. Knowledge of common morbidities could help first contact physicians anticipate and plan for their care, especially in the context of a family.
Objective: To determine the commonest morbidities associated with HIV-exposed formula-fed infants on Antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis.
Materials and Methods: A total of 65 HIV-exposed infants born to HIV sero-positive women on highly active antiretroviral therapy were consecutively recruited and followed up in a cohort from birth to 6 weeks of age.
Results: The babies had varying range of morbidities. Rate of vertical transmission was observed to be 1.5% whereas infant mortality was 0% at 6 weeks of age, no morbidity was observed in 26 (40.0%) infants. However, 27 (41.53%) infants had respiratory tract infection, 3 (4.62%) had diarrhea, 3(4.62%) had Ophthalmia neonatorum, and another 3 (4.62%) had malaria. No infant in the study was found to have more than one disease symptom. The cumulative frequency of infants that were sick at 6 weeks of age was 39 (60.0%), whereas the mortality rate at 6 weeks of age in the study was 0% despite varying morbidities.
Conclusion: Upper respiratory tract infection, ophthalmia neonatorum and diarrhea were found to be the most common morbidities associated with HIV-exposed formula-fed infants on ARV prophylaxis.
Key words: HIV-exposed infants, formula-feeding, morbidity, resource-constrained, family
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