Maternal HIV Status and Child Growth Outcomes in Zimbabwe Over Time

Emily Groene, University of Minnesota
Robert Jose Valeris Chacin, University of Minnesota
Anna Stadelman , University of Minnesota

Few studies have described the association between maternal HIV status and child malnutrition in Zimbabwe over time. Using data from the 2005-2006, 2010-2011, and 2015 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in Zimbabwe, we compared child stuntedness, underweight, and wasting status between HIV-positive and negative mothers using survey-weighted logistic regression[4]. The adjusted model found that in 2005-2006, children of mothers who were HIV positive were more likely to be stunted (Prevalence Difference (PD)=0.06; 95%CI=0.02 to 0.10; P=0.005) and underweight (PD=0.06; 95%CI=0.02 to 0.09; P=0.001) than children of mothers who were HIV negative. In 2010-2011, boys of mothers who were HIV positive were more likely to be stunted (PD=0.10; 95%CI=0.02 to 0.18; P=0.005) than boys of mothers who were HIV negative. In 2015, there was no association between child malnourishment and maternal HIV status. Overall, there is a decreasing trend in the impact of maternal HIV status on child malnourishment.

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 Presented in Session 11. Health & Mortality 2