Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2026

High Throughput In Vitro Assessment of Latency Reversing Agents on HIV Transcription and Splicing
07:18

High Throughput In Vitro Assessment of Latency Reversing Agents on HIV Transcription and Splicing

Published on: January 22, 2019

Biologic and social determinants of sequelae and long-term survival of pediatric HIV in Romania

Claudia A Kozinetz1, Rodica Matusa, Carl S Hacker

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. kozinetz@bcm.edu

Annals of Epidemiology
|January 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Social context significantly impacts survival for children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Parental education and employment are key factors in HIV care and treatment for youth in developing nations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a significant health challenge globally, particularly in developing countries.
  • Understanding factors influencing survival in pediatric HIV cohorts is crucial for effective public health interventions.
  • Previous research has focused on clinical factors, but the role of social context requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of social context and clinical factors on survival in a cohort of 333 children diagnosed with HIV.
  • To identify key issues for improving the treatment and care of HIV-infected youth in developing countries.
  • To analyze the relationship between parental education, maternal employment, and child survival rates.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study design with baseline and 1-year follow-up.
  • Cohort included 333 children diagnosed with HIV between 1995 and 1999 in Constanta, Romania.
  • Multivariate Cox regression analysis models were used to examine data.

Main Results:

  • Most children (81%) presented with moderate to severe HIV stages at baseline.
  • Social-context factors, particularly parental education level, were significant determinants of HIV survival.
  • Children with parents of higher education had a substantially lower hazard of death.
  • Maternal employment was associated with a fourfold increase in survival likelihood.

Conclusions:

  • Social-contextual risk factors play a critical role in HIV disease progression and survival among children in developing countries.
  • Recognizing and addressing these social determinants is essential for enhancing care and treatment strategies for HIV-infected youth.
  • Findings highlight the need for integrated approaches that consider social factors alongside clinical management in pediatric HIV care.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...