TITLE:
The Neurocognitive Assessment of HIV-Infected School-Aged Nigerian Children
AUTHORS:
Gbemisola O. Boyede, Foluso E. A. Lesi, Chinyere V. Ezeaka, Charles S. Umeh
KEYWORDS:
Pediatric HIV; Cognitive Assessment; School-Age Children; Ravens Progressive Matrices; Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
7,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective: Studies available on cognitive function among
school-aged HIV-infected African and in particular Nigerian children are few. The purpose of the study was to
assess the neurocognitive function of a group of HIV-infected schoolaged (6 - 15 years) children using the Raven’s
Standard Progressive Matrices (RPM). Method: Cognitive assessments of 69 HIV
positive children and 69 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy HIV negative
control children were performed using
the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RPM). The children were subdivided
(Piaget’s developmental staging) into two sub-groups: the concrete operation
stage (6 - 11 years) and the formal operation stage (12 - 15 years) for analysis. Result: The mean RPM score for the HIV positive children
was 18.2 (8.0 - 47.0, SD 9.8) which was significantly lower than the score of 27.2 (8.0 - 52.0, SD 13.8) for the HIV negative
children (p formance at below average to
intellectually defective range. Conclusion: School-aged HIV positive children had significantly lower cognitive scores
compared with age and gender-matched HIV negative children. Routine neuropsychological evaluation of all
school-aged HIV-infected children is recommended. Early detection of cognitive
impairment will help in
planning appropriate interventions.