THE BURDEN OF HIV INFECTED SEVERELY ACUTE MALNOURISHED CHILDREN IN FOUR HEALTH FACILITIES IN THE BAMENDA MUNICIPALITY, CAMEROON

Abstract

Introduction: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in developing countries. The presence of HIV worsens this condition, creating a vicious cycle that increases morbidity and mortality. This study aims to assess the prole of children with SAM infected with HIV across four hospitals in Bamenda municipality.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study included children aged 6 weeks to 15 years hospitalized for SAM between January 1st, 2020, and December 31st, 2024, in Bamenda Regional Hospital, Nkwen District Hospital, Saint Blaise Catholic Hospital, and Saint Mary Soledad Catholic Hospital. The sociodemographic information, type of malnutrition, clinical presentation, HIV status and hospital outcome were collected using a pretested study-specic questionnaire, entered into Microsoft Excel, and analyzed with SPSS version 27.
Results: Out of the 217 children with SAM, 54 were HIV infected, giving a prevalence of 24.9%. The mean age of HIV infected children was 22.4 months, with a female predominance (sex ratio 1.7). Marasmic kwashiorkor was the clinical form most strongly associated with HIV (aOR=5.05; 95% CI: 1.36–18.68; p=0.015). Dyspnea was the symptom signicantly associated with HIV (aOR=5.41; 95% CI: 2.67–10.96; p<0.001), while lymphadenopathy and mouth ulcers were the clinical signs most associated with HIV (aOR=5.19; 95% CI: 1.40–19.80; p=0.013). Purulent otitis (aOR=12.11; 95% CI: 3.12–47.08; p<0.001) and tuberculosis (aOR=12.80; 95% CI: 1.23–133.05; p=0.032) were the pathologies signicantly associated with HIV infection. The mean hospitalization duration was longer among HIV-positive
children (11.8 days) compared to HIV-negative peers (9.9 days).

Conclusion: HIV prevalence among children with SAM was 24.9%. Marasmic kwashiorkor, dyspnea, lymphadenopathy, mouth ulcers, purulent otitis, and tuberculosis were signicantly associated with HIV in SAM cases. Hospital stay was longer among HIV-infected children