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Effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in treating paediatric HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

R B Pierre1, J C Steel-Duncan, T Evans-Gilbert

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.

The West Indian Medical Journal
|July 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric HIV care in Jamaica improved child survival and quality of life through an effective ambulatory model. This intervention reduced hospitalizations and infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis in children on antiretroviral therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Paediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Paediatric HIV/AIDS presents a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing nations.
  • Effective management strategies are crucial for improving outcomes in affected children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for children with HIV/AIDS.
  • To describe the outcomes of HIV-infected children in ambulatory care settings in Jamaica.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective follow-up of 197 HIV-infected children in multicentre ambulatory clinics from 2002 to 2005.
  • Data collection on clinical outcomes, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and duration, and anthropometric measurements.

Main Results:

  • Low loss to follow-up (6.0%) and mortality rate (4.64 per 100 child-years).
  • Significant improvements in weight-for-height and BMI-for-age z scores after 24 months on ART (p=0.001, p=0.002).
  • Reductions in hospitalizations (p=0.03) and incidence of pneumonia, sepsis, and tuberculosis in children on ART.

Conclusions:

  • A successfully implemented ambulatory model for paediatric HIV care in Jamaica enhances quality of life and survival.
  • ART is associated with improved clinical outcomes and reduced opportunistic infections in this cohort.
Abstract

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