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Predictors of HIV testing and serostatus amongst children admitted to Port Moresby General Hospital
W E Allison1, M Kiromat, J D Vince
1National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
Identifying factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in children is crucial for Papua New Guinea. This study highlights clinical indicators that may improve current HIV testing practices for pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant health concern in children.
- Effective HIV testing strategies are essential for early diagnosis and management in pediatric populations.
- Current HIV testing practices in Papua New Guinea require evaluation to inform guideline development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors associated with HIV testing in children at Port Moresby General Hospital.
- To determine characteristics linked to positive HIV serostatus among tested children.
- To provide data for improving HIV testing guidelines for children in Papua New Guinea.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of hospital records for children tested for HIV (December 2005 - November 2006).
- Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics between tested and untested children.
- Analysis of factors predicting HIV testing and seropositive status.
Main Results:
- 215 children were tested for HIV, with 57 (26.5%) testing positive.
- Tested children were more likely to be under 18 months, hospitalized for over 7 days, and present with diarrhea, malnutrition, or oral candidiasis.
- Suspected tuberculosis was a significant predictor of HIV-positive serostatus in tested children.
Conclusions:
- Clinical factors associated with pediatric HIV may not be fully integrated into current testing practices.
- A systematic approach to HIV testing for children in Papua New Guinea is important.
- Further research is needed to refine and implement effective pediatric HIV testing guidelines.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with current HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) testing practice at Port Moresby General Hospital and positive serostatus among children tested, as a basis for contributing to guidelines on HIV testing for children in Papua New Guinea. Data were extracted from hospital records to determine the demographic and presenting clinical characteristics of admitted children tested for HIV serostatus between 1 December 2005 and 30 November 2006. These data were compared with corresponding data from untested control children from the same wards. The same characteristics were compared between seropositive and seronegative cases. Odds ratios were derived for potential predictors of testing and its outcome. During the study period, HIV tests were reported on 215 children, of whom 57 were seropositive. Controls were 264 untested children. Tested children were more likely to be aged 18 months or less, to have been admitted for more than 7 days, and to have diarrhoea, be malnourished or have oral candidiasis. Among children tested, suspected tuberculosis as a presenting illness was significantly predictive of HIV-positive serostatus. This study indicates that certain clinical factors associated with HIV-positive status in children may not yet have been incorporated into testing practice, and underlines the importance of developing a systematic approach to testing children for HIV in Papua New Guinea.
