MAGNITUDE OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HIV EXPOSED INFANTS IN SOUTH WEST SHOA ZONE, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA, 2022: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Mother-to-child transmission is the largest source of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in children under the age of 15. Despite widespread efforts made, the transmission rate is still as high as 18% in Ethiopia. Though there are several HIV-related studies conducted in Ethiopia, evidence is scarce on mother-to-child transmission of HIV and associated factors among HIV exposed infants, particularly in the study area. Objective: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of mother to child transmission of HIV and associated factors among HIV exposed infants in South West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: This study was conducted in South West Shoa Zone, Oromia from July 2014 to December 2022. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted. A sample of 361 exposed infants were included in the study. The collected data were entered into Epi-info version 7.2.3.1 and analyzed through Statistical package for the social science version 25. Simple and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were applied. Strength of association was reported using adjusted odds ratio (AOR), and its 95% confidence interval (CI) and statistical significance were declared at p-value <0.05. Result: The prevalence of Mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV was 9.7%. No Ante natal care (ANC) attendance (AOR: 4.7; 95% CI: 1.15-19.58), absence of antiretroviral (ARV) during ANC (AOR: 6.4; 95% CI: 1.87-21.77), fair adherence to ARV (AOR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.06 12.57), home delivery (AOR: 6.2; 95% CI: 1.51-25.24), no antiretroviral therapy (ART) during delivery (AOR: 3.7; 95% CI: 1.12-12.10), WHO clinical stage 2 (AOR: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.52-16.94), no infant ARV prophylaxis (AOR: 6.4; 95% CI: 1.42-28.49) and mixed feeding (AOR: 4.0; 95% CI: 1.18-13.67) were independent factors of HIV positive status among HIV exposed infants. Conclusion: Prevalence of MTCT of HIV which is twofold of the 2020 national target 5%. ANC attendance, ARV during ANC and delivery, place of delivery, ARV adherence, WHO clinical stage, infant ARV prophylaxes and feeding practice were associated with the HIV status of the infants. Keywords: Risk factors, Exposed infant, HIV, PMTCT, MTCT