The main risk in human immunodeficiency virus positive pregnant women widely studied is the transmission of the virus to newborn [1]. The potential adverse effects of HIV-1 infection during pregnancy on weight at birth and infant mortality are few studies, mostly from African English speaking countries. Another possible risk is the influence of this infection on neonate anthropometric characteristics [2] [3]. But this is a controversy subject in scientific domain. Indeed for some authors [4] [5] [6] [7] , children born to HIV infected mothers have higher risk of LBW. A study that took place in Cote d’Ivoire confirmed that this LBW is associated to antiretroviral treatment (ART) [8] while for Minkoff [9] , there is no relationship between HIV and LBW.

Independently of infant HIV infection, LBW constitutes one of the strongest causes of newborn mortality [2] [10]. In populations with a high prevalence of HIV infection, maternal HIV, status and LBW are likely to be important determinants of child survival [11]. Is women HIV infection an additional risk factor of infant death? Most of studies examined association between LBW in HIV infected patients without discrimination of types of the virus. Also, few surveys about LBW among HIV-1 infected women examined the association between LBW and mother to child HIV transmission (MTCT) and risk factors of newborn outcome.

A better understanding of risk factors of LBW born to HIV-1 infected mother and the relationship between mother to child HIV transmission (MTCT) and LBW would help in developing countries to undertake interventions to reduce LBW and its consequences in HIV positive women and so to reduce HIV transmission to child born to HIV infected mother in that situation. The particularities of this study are: firstly, that study took place in a West African French speaking country where this area has not been thoroughly studied; secondly, it took place in a low HIV prevalence country and thirdly this study is about LWB and newborn death among HIV-1 infected women. We reported the results of the relationship between HIV-1 maternal infection and anthropometric characteristics of the child at birth. The objectives of our study were to determine risk factors of LBW among HIV-1 infected mother, to evaluate newborn death risk factors and to determine the rate of HIV transmission from mother to child in this LBW delivery context.

Of 12.077 births recorded in this study within 531 cases of pregnant women HIV-1 infected (4.4%). Of the 531 HIV-1 positive pregnant women, we randomized 111 women who delivered newborn with LBW (group e1) and 222 HIV-1 positive pregnant who delivered newborn whose weight ≥ 2500 g (group 2). Of the remaining 11.546 patients we randomized 222 HIV negative pregnant women who delivered newborn weight < 2500 g (group 3). The rate of newborns with LBW in the study has been 20.9% (111/531); during the same period the rate of newborn whose birth weight among HIV negative patients was 16.5% (1910/11.546) (p = 0.016).

The analysis of Table 1 that presents data about relation between the CD4 T Cell, Viral load (VL), status of newborn, weight at birth, sex of the newborn, newborn death, HAART regimen and moment of ART initiation (Univariate and multivariate Analysis) in the area showed: CD4 T cell counts low than 350 T cells count was strongly associated to LBW (p = 0.000; RR, 3.03; 95% CI [1.89 - 3.16]). Average rate of CD4 T cells counts in group 1 was 570 cells/mm³ (extreme values = 11 and 1099 cells/mm³). In group 2, CD4 T cells count average rate was 541 cells/mm³ (extreme values = 2 and 1082 cells/mm³).

The VL was undetectable in group 1 in 58.3% (28 cases/48) and 61.7% (66 cases/10⁷) in group 2 (p = 0.416).

HAART was initiated in group 1 at a median of gestational week of 31 wk with an interquartile range (IQR) of 26 - 34 wk. For group 2 it was initiated at a median of gestational week of 32 wk (IQR = 27 - 33 wk). In the both groups, VL and sex of newborn were not related to LBW. There is no significant association between ART that was initiated during pregnancy (p = 0.061, RR, 0.02; 95% CI [1.02 - 1.99]) or during delivery (p = 0.571; RR, 1.01; 95% CI [0.10 - 3.02]) and LBW delivery.

In multivariate analysis ART regimens containing protease inhibitor (PI) were lone regimens associated with LBW (p = 0.030; RR, 1.001; 95% CI [1.28 - 3.80]). Very low birth weight was statistically associated to women HIV-1 infection (p = 0.010; RR, 1.13; 95% CI [1.05 - 5.07]); this difference persisted after adjustment (adjusted relative risk, 2.02; p = 0.000; 95% CI [2.17 - 4.10]). In group 1 average weight of newborns was 1996.4 g (extremes values: 520 g and 2480 g) versus 2599.0 g in group 2 (extremes values: 2510 and 4120 g).

Other anthropometric data showed that 67.5% and 60.4% of children in group 1 had respectively body length and head circumference below standard measurement compared to newborns of group 3 (p = 0.000).

There is no significant difference between mother to child HIV transmission rate in the two HIV-1 infected pregnant women (10 infected children in group 2: MTCT rate 4.5%) and 3 infected children in group 1 (MTCT rate: 2.7%) (p = 0.56; RR, 0.59; 95% CI [0.18 - 4.39]).

During follow-up, 17 newborn and infant deaths in the group 1 and 13 newborn and infant deaths in group 2 were reported. No statistically significant difference was found according to infant death and infant feeding practice (p = 0.171). In multivariate analysis, LBW was associated with infant death (p = 0.001; RR, 2.04; 95% CI [1.04 - 5.05]). The median weight of infant at the moment of death in group 1 was 851 g (IQR: 520 - 1833 g).

Table 2 showed significant relationship between infant death among LBW newborn with mother WHO stage 2 (p = 0.004; adjusted RR, 3.22; CI [2.25 - 6.00]), CD4 T cells count < 350 cells/mm³ (p = 0.005; RR, 2.81; 95% CI [1.20 - 4.11]), PI regimens (p = 0.030; RR, 1.001; 95% CI [1.28 - 3.80]). Among HIV infected children in the both groups, we recorded two deaths of children in the group 1 (2/17 being 11.8%) and 3 in the group 2 (3/13 being 23.1%).

Our study demonstrated clearly that LBW is higher among HIV-1 infected pregnant women (20.9%) than HIV-negative one (16.5%). It showed also that the main risk factors of LBW among HIV-1 infected mother were low CD4 T cells count, ART regimen before beginning of pregnancy and ART regimen containing PI (Table 1). Hypotrophy and birth weight less than 1500 g were associated to mother HIV-1 infection.

Few studies in West Africa examined the association between LBW and mother HIV-1 infection. In a cross-sectional study conducted by Sombié [3] in Bobo-Dioulasso from January 1995 to May 1996, LBW was more frequent among children born to HIV-infected mothers than among those born to uninfected mothers (23.37% versus 15.6%; p = 0.006). In the multivariate analysis, he demonstrated that mother HIV infection was a risk factor of LBW (p < 0.001). Data from Cote d’Ivoire [8] about ART and prevention of peripartum and postnatal HIV transmission in West Africa and from Senegal [12] about PMTCT, found association between LBW and mother HIV infection without discrimination between the types of virus. For Tonwe [8] , multivariate analysis showed low birth weight (<2500 g) was the only factor associated with acquisition of HIV infection, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 5.63 (p = 0.006; 95% CI [1.62 - 19.49]). Other studies confirm this relationship between LBW and HIV infection. Indeed for Ratchanee [13] in Thailand, kamenga [14] in Kinshasa and Martin [15] in USA, LBW was strongly associated to maternal HIV infected status. In a study that evaluated maternal HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases and LBW, Kamenga [14] reported a newly double prevalence of LBW (21% versus 11%, odds ratio 2.1; 95% CI [1.3 - 3.5]). However some authors believed there is no relationship between LBW and mother HIV infection. It is the case in Minkof [9] study that did not found any influence between child birth weight and HIV infection although the growth retardation is common among newborns from HIV positive women.

In Africa, particularly in Mali, pregnant HIV infected women usually consult later when they had advanced HIV disease, exposing them to opportunistic or repeat infections. These infections led to premature births that were more frequent in our patients in group 1 whose CD4 T cells count rate was three times lower. In Tanzania, Dreyfus [16] found in a multivariate-adjusted linear regression that CD4 cell count < 200 cells/mm³ was significantly associated with LBW. However, for Kamenga [14] maternal T4 lymphocyte level is not associated with LBW.

Analysis of Table 1 shows that the proportion of LBW was not different if ART is initiated during pregnancy or during delivery. When treatment is started early, children were smallest at birth [17]. Our results are confirmed by a meta-analysis that found after adjusting for several factors, HAART used pre-conception was associated with an increased risk for preterm delivery (p = 0.009; adjusted OR, 5.0; 95% CI [1.5 - 17.0]) and LBW (p = 0.001; OR, 3.6; 95% CI [1.7 - 7.7]) [18]. Indeed, we believe that if HIV testing is done before the beginning of pregnancy and when treatment is instituted early, this would improve the immune status of the patient and then reduce the risk and recurrence of opportunistic infections and then avoid LBW. Some authors [17] [19] incriminated PI in the occurrence of low birth weight while for Tonwe [8] antiretroviral treatment, irrespective of class, is more associated with weight at birth. This risk is lower among mothers treated with drugs containing no PI (OR = 0.58; 95% CI. [0.41 - 0.84]) compared to the group of women treated with mono therapy [19]. But it was higher in women treated with PI and women treated without PI [19]. So, he concluded that delivery of very LBW was associated with the use of PI although this association was not significant [19]. Women receiving PI-containing drugs had a deeper immunological status more than those who had not been treated by PI regimen [17]. Therefore, they CD4 T cells count rate was so lower their health requires a prescription of powerful antiretroviral regimen to make viral load undetectable and to reduce the frequency of opportunistic infections.

Regarding the term of pregnancy and HAART regimen, our results were not consistent with data of the literature which reported preterm and very preterm newborns rates significantly associated with antiretroviral treatment [17]. Our study preterm delivery rate is higher than that reported in France [17] (10.5% including 2 cases of mother treated by PI), USA [15] (19%) and Burkina Faso (2 cases) [3]. Data from Côte d’Ivoire [8] found no significant difference in the rates of premature births (gestational age < 37 wk) between the two groups comparing short and long treatments regimens (7.8% and 7.9%, p = 1.00). However a higher proportion of LBW (<2500 g) was observed in neonates whose mothers had received HAART (26.3%) compared to patients having received a short course of ART (12.4%) for PMTCT regimen (p < 0.0001). These differences persisted after adjusting for maternal body mass index, CD4 T cells count and the WHO clinical stage [8]. In Malawi, prematurity rate was higher in women on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (14.1%, 476/3384) than in women on mono/dual therapy (10.1%, 107/1061), even after adjusting for ethnicity, maternal age, clinical status and injecting drug use as use as the source of HIV acquisition (p = 0.001; adjusted OR, 1.51, 95% CI [1.19 - 1.93]). Delivery at <35 weeks was even more strongly associated with HAART (p < 0.001; OR, 2.34; 95% CI [1.64 - 3.37]). For Townsend [20] , the effect was the same whether or not HAART included a protease inhibitor. In a study that analyzed adverse birth outcome in HIV infected women in Botswana, Chen [21] reported that patients continuing HAART from before pregnancy had higher odds of preterm delivery (adjusted OR, 1.2; 95% CI [1.1, 1.4]), small newborn for gestational age (adjusted OR, 1.8; 95% CI [1.6, 2.1]). In the same survey, among women initiating antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy, HAART use was associated with higher odds of preterm delivery (adjusted OR, 1.4; 95% CI [1.2, 1.8]), small newborn for gestational age (adjusted OR, 1.5; 95% CI [1.2, 1.9]) [21]. So, he concluded HAART receipt during pregnancy was associated with increased preterm delivery and small gestational age [21].

In Bobo-Dioulasso, mean birth weight, birth size and head circumference did not significantly differ between the children of HIV-infected and uninfected mothers [3]. Maternal HIV infection appears to be associated with LBW and small birth size [3].

The rate of HIV transmission from mother to child was twice lower than women who delivered normal weight newborns. However there was no significant difference between mother to child HIV transmission rate in the two HIV-1 infected pregnant women (MTCT rate 4.5%) and LBW group 1 (MTCT rate: 2.7%) (p = 0.56; RR, 0.59; 95% CI [0.18 - 4.39]). All infected newborns were breastfed and had not received optimal management [17] , pattern observed among Milogo-Traore [22] and Khuong-Josses studies [17]. Breastfeeding that is not formally indicated in developed countries is often the only logical choice in our limited resources countries to feed these children living generally in a precarious situation.

Premature birth is a cause of MTCT if maternal treatment is initiated late (after 28 weeks of gestation). When it occurs, HAART drugs had not enough time to decrease the mother’s plasma HIV viral load, enhance immune function and reduce dramatically the HIV transmission to the newborn [8]. The viral load, sex of newborn, CD4 cells count ≥ 350 cells/mm³, 3INTI and 2 INRTI plus 1 INNRTI regimens were not associated with the occurrence of LBW. VL was undetectable in similar rate in both groups of HIV infected women in our study.

Another risk related to low birth weight in HIV infected mother is newborn and infant death [2]. During the 18 months follow-up, we reported 17 newborn and infant deaths in the group 1 and 13 newborn and infant deaths in group 2. Infant death was two time more associated to newborn LBW (adjusted RR = 2.04). In multivariate analysis, LBW was associated with newborn and infant death (p = 0.01; RR, 3.55; 95% CI [1.22 - 4.19]). The main risk factors of child death were mother WHO stage 2 (p = 0.004; adjusted RR, 3.22; 95% CI [2.25 - 6.00]), PI regimens (p = 0.030; RR, 1.001; 95% CI [1.28 - 3.80]). Among HIV infected children in the both groups, we recorded two deaths of children in the group 1 (2/17 being 11.8%) and 3 in the group 2 (3/13 being 23.1%). No statistically significant difference was found according to infant death and infant feeding practice (p = 0.171). These results are confirmed by Tanzania study conducted by Ruilan [2] that found that after adjustment, LBW was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of infant mortality (RR = 2.40; 95% CI 1.45 - 3.95). Infant death in our study was negatively influenced by LBW and mother’s CD4 T cells count < 350 cells/mm³ (p = 0.005; RR, 2.81; CI [1.20 - 4.11]), contrarily to MTCT of the virus that was not related to LBW (Table 2); but this conclusion could be discussed because of the very low rate of HIV infant infection in our study.

The occurrence of LBW in HIV-1 infected women is relatively more frequent than HIV negative mothers. These newborn low birth weights are mainly related to low CD4 T cells count (<350 cells/mm³), ART regimens containing PI, and ART initiated before beginning of pregnancy. Newborn death was strongly related to LBW in our patients. No relationship has been found between newborn low birth weight and MTCT of HIV. These results confirm that efforts to reduce the incidence of LBW are necessary to enhance the benefices of PMTCT program.

There is no conflict of interest for authors in that submitted manuscripts.

Youssouf, T., Ibrahima, T., Traoré, D.F., Amadou, B., Seydou, F., Tidiani, T., Salia, T.M., Seydou, D., Moustapha, T., Nesrin, V. and Amadou, D. (2019) The Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Infection on Low Birth Weight, Mother to Child HIV Transmission and Infants’ Death in African Area. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 9, 158-169. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojog.2019.92017