Diagnosis of Early Infant HIV Infection among Sero-Positive Mother in Jimma Zone, Southern West Ethiopia, Jimma

Back ground: Ethiopia is among the country most affected by the HIV with adult prevalence of 1.5%; majority of children acquired HIV from their mother through vertical transmission. WHO estimate that about 3.2 million children were living with HIV at the end of 2013 worldwide. HIV-related mortality rates remain high in sub-Saharan Africa despite growing access to ART. Ethiopian government has launched fee based ART treatment in 2003 and free ART in 2005. The aim of current study is to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among HIV-exposed infant from their HIV positive mothers in Jimma zone. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at JUSH on 225 infants born from HIV seropositive mothers. The relevant data were retrieved from molecular laboratory result record. Data were collected by the investigator. Collected data were tallied and processed by manually and computer tools. Data was entered in to excel sheet for statistical analysis. The quality of data was controlled. Ethical issue was taken into account.Results: The study revealed that 5.3% (12/225) of the infants born from HIV seropositive mothers were found to be HIV positive. From a total of 225 infants born from HIV seropositive mothers and had been tested for HIV by DNA PCR, 120(53.3%) were males and 105(46.7%) were females. With regard to the time of diagnosis of infants born from HIV positive mothers, the majority 210 (93.3%) had their DBS tested at or after 7 weeks. While only 15 (6.7%) infants were tested at the right time, which is at 6 weeks.Conclusion: The vertical transmission rate was (5.3%) in the present study, reflects the using of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) strategy needed to be strengthen and further activities has to be continued. Keywords: HIV, Early infant diagnosis, HAART, DB