Growth and nutritional intake of HIV exposed preterm very low and extremely low birth weight infants at Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape, South Africa

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Introduction: There is a gap in research in the South African context regarding the relationship between preterm infants, HIV, nutritional interventions and growth. Determining the growth of HIV-exposed preterm infants would create a better understanding of the adverse effects of this infectious disease on the nutritional status of preterm infants, their growth and future outcomes. It would also assist in implementing timely and appropriate interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the growth and nutritional intake of HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed preterm, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants at Tygerberg Hospital, Western Cape, South Africa. Study objectives included evaluating and comparing the effect of nutritional intake and the duration of maternal highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the growth of preterm, VLBW infants. Participants and methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytical component. Neonatal wards at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital (TBCH) were selected for data collection. The study population consisted of male and female preterm and very low birth weight HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants. Infants with a birth weight of < 1 200 g were eligible for the study. Anthropometrical measurements, daily intakes, and feeding tolerance were monitored for 28 days. Results: Of the 113 infants enrolled in the study, 26.5% (n = 30) were HIV-exposed and 73.5% (n = 83) were HIV-unexposed. The mean birth weight was 971.06 g (± 162.92 g). The HIV-unexposed preterm infants had a higher mean birth weight than the HIV-exposed group, although the difference was not significant. The two groups gained weight at a similar rate until day 14 of life, whereafter the HIV-unexposed group gained weight at a higher rate. The same trend was observed in head circumference growth. The HIV-unexposed group had significantly greater birth lengths (p = 0.016) when compared with the HIV-exposed group, but weekly follow-up measurements did not differ significantly until day 28 of life (p = 0.004). Full feeds were achieved on day 12.5 (± 3.71) and day 11.37 (± 3.31) of life for the HIV-exposed and unexposed groups respectively, but the difference was not significant. This study found that there was no correlation between the duration of maternal HAART and gestational age (r = 0.06), birth weight (r = 0.08) or foot length (r = 0.09). A weak positive correlation existed between the duration of maternal HAART and the infant’s birth length (r = 0.17) and head circumference (r = 0.25). There were no differences in the incidence of signs of feeding intolerance between the groups. Conclusion: HIV exposure influences the growth of premature infants, irrespective of nutritional intake. The growth rates of HIV-exposed infants were lower for all anthropometric parameters.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Daar is leemte in navorsing in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks oor die verhouding tussen die premature baba, Menslike Immuno Virus (MIV), voedingsintervensies en groei. Die bepaling van groei van die MIV-bloodgestelde premature baba is belangrik in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Hierdie tipe navorsing sal ook kenners in staat stel om beter te verstaan watter effek hierdie aansteeklike siekte op voedingstatus, groei en toekomstige uitkomstes van die premature baba het, asook hoe om tydige en toepaslike intervensies te implementeer. Doelwit: Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om die groei en voedings inname van MIV-blootgestelde en MIV-nie blootgestelde premature, baie lae geboortegewig (BLG) babas in Tygerberg Hospitaal, Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Studie doelwitte was om die groei van MIV-blootgestelde en MIV-nie blootgestelde preterm, BLG babas te evalueer en vergelyk asook om die effek te evalueer wat voedingsinname en MIV-positiewe moeders se duurte van hoogs aktiewe anti-retrovirale behandeling (Highly active anti-retroviral treatment of HAART in Engels) het op die groei van MIV-blootgestelde preterm, BLG babas. Metodes: Die studie was ‘n beskrywende deursnit studie, met ‘n analitiese komponent. Omgewing: Neonatale sale by Tygerberg-kinderhospitaal, was gekies vir data insameling. Die studie populasie het bestaan uit manlike en vroulike prematuur en baie lae geboortegewig babas wat MIV-blootgestel en MIV-nie blootgestel was. Babas met ‘n geboortegewig van < 1 200 g is toegelaat tot die studie. Antropometriese metings, daaglikse inname en voeding toleransie is gemonitor vir 28 dae. Resultate: Van die 113 babas wat in hierdie studie ingesluit is, was 26.5% (n = 30) MIV-blootgestel en 73.5% (n = 83) HIV-nie blootgestel. Die gemiddelde geboortegewig was 971.06 g (± 162.92 g). Hierdie studie het gevind dat MIV-nie blootgestelde babas gebore is met ‘n nie beduidende hoer geboorte gewig as die MIV-blootgestelde groep. Die twee groepe het gewig opgetel teen ‘n soortgelyke tempo tot op dag 14, waarna die MIV-nie blootgestelde groep vinniger opgetel het en die gemiddelde gewig van die twee groepe beduidend verskil het. Dieselfe patroon is sigbaar met kop omtrek. Die MIV-nie blootgestelde groep was aansienlik langer met geboorte (p = 0.016) in vergelyking met die MIV-blootgestelde groep, maar lengtes het eers op dag 28 weer beduidend verskil (p = 0.004). Vol voedings was bereik op dag 12.5 (± 3.71) en dag 11.37 (±3.31) van lewe vir die MIV-blootgestelde en MIV-nie blootgestelde groepe onderskeidelik. Hierdie studie het gevind dat daar geen korrelasie is tussen die duurte van HAART behandling en die MIV-blootgestelde baba se gestasionele ouderdom (r = 0.06), geboorte gewig (r = 0.08) of voet lengte (r = 0.09) nie. ‘n Swak positiewe korrelasie is wel gevind tussen die premature baba se geboortelengte (r = 0.17), asook hulle geboorte kopomtrek (r=0.25) en die tydperk van die moeder se HAART behandeling. Daar was geen veskille in die voeding intoleransies in die MIV-blootgestelde en MIV-nie blootgestelde groepe nie. Gevolgtrekking: MIV-blootstelling het ‘n invloed op die groei van premature babas ongeag hulle voeding inname. Die groei tempo van MIV-blootgestelde babas is laer vir alle antropometriese parameters.
Description
Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Premature infants -- Nutrition -- Western Cape (South Africa), Premature infants -- Growth -- Western Cape (South Africa), Infants -- Nutrition -- Western Cape (South Africa), Birth weight, Low -- Western Cape (South Africa), UCTD
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