Health care resource utilization in untreated HIV-infected children in a pediatric programme, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 2004-2009.

BACKGROUND: We describe health care resource utilization among HIV-1-infected children who have not yet undergone antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Abidjan Cote dIvoire. METHODS: HIV-infected children enrolled prospectively in an HIV care programme in 2 health facilities in Abidjan (2004-2009) were followed up from date of inclusion until database closeout death ART initiation or loss to follow-up (no clinical contact for more than 6 months). Incidences of health care resource utilization (outpatient care inpatient day care and hospitalization) were described according to severe morbidity and mixed effect log linear models were computed to identify associated factors. RESULTS: Overall 405 children were included entering care at a median age of 4.5 years 66.9% were receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and 27.7% met 2006 WHO criteria for immunodeficiency by age. The median follow-up time was 11.6 months (interquartile range: 1.4; 30.7). Overall 371 clinical events occurred in 162 children yielding to an incidence rate (IR) of 60.9/100 child-years (CY) [95% confidence interval (CI): 55.1 to 67.2]: 57% of clinical events led to outpatient care (IR: 33/100 CY) 38% to inpatient day care (IR: 22/100 CY) and 10% to hospitalization (IR: 5.9/100 CY). Further medical examinations were made allowing confirmed diagnoses in 40% of those (IR: 22.4/100 CY). Outpatient care was less common among immunodeficient children than those not (relative risk [RR] = 0.32 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.56) in those whose main caregivers are both parents compared with those who are primarily cared for by their mother only (RR = 0.34 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.77). CONCLUSION: Untreated HIV-infected children require substantial inpatient and outpatient care in a context where ART is scaling up but still not available to all.