TITLE:
Audits of Death in HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents Followed up in the Pediatric Department of the Regional Teaching Hospital of Borgou/Alibori from 2005 to 2020
AUTHORS:
Alphonse Noudamadjo, Mohamed Falilatou Agbeille, Dénagan Kévin Amoussou, Médétinmè Gérard Kpanidja, Lahanatou Séidou, Chantal Chabi, Réckya Kilaya, Julien Didier Adédémy, Agossou Joseph
KEYWORDS:
HIV, Death, Children, Adolescents, Dysfunctions, Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.14 No.2,
March
13,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major public health problem with high morbidity and mortality among children. The objective of this work was to audit the deaths of children and adolescents with HIV infection followed up in the pediatric department of the Regional Teaching Hospital of Borgou/Alibori (CHUDB/A) the from 2005 to 2020. Patients and Method: This was a retrospective and descriptive study conducted in the pediatric department of CHUD/B-A in Parakou. All children with HIV infection who died from January 1, 2005 to August 31, 2020 were included. Data collection was carried out in three stages: a phase of medical records processing, a phase of community survey and a phase of death audits. The variables studied were sociodemographic, clinical, biological, therapeutic and evolutionary. Results: Over the study period, the data of 464 infected children were recorded, including 92 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 19.83%. Severe acute malnutrition (69.23%), gastro-intestinal tract infections (43.58%) and serious opportunistic pulmonary infections (24.36% pulmonary tuberculosis and 19.23% pneumocystis) were the main causes of death. The main dysfunctions found were: the delayed diagnosis of HIV infection (79.35%), the absence or delay in consultation when the child’s clinical condition deteriorates (32.61% and 47.83%), delayed initiation of antiretroviral treatment (42.39%) and non-adherence to treatment (38.04%). Non-adherence to treatment was predominant in adolescents (90.49%). Conclusion: Specific interventions for early detection, adequate nutritional care, psychosocial support for adolescents and mothers of children are necessary to reduce mortality due to HIV among children and adolescents.