Morbidity patterns and survival among children living with HIV and HIV-exposed uninfected children in North Karnataka, India: a community-based prospective cohort study
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Community Medicine, S. Nijalingappa Medical College , , ,
- 2School of Public Health, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KAHER) , , ,
- 3Deparment of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KAHER) , , ,
- 4Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) , ,
- 5Magic Bus Foundation , ,
- 6National TB Elimination Program, WHO Country Office for India , ,
Abstract
Background: Children living with HIV (CLHIV) continue to face high rates of infection and morbidity despite improved ART coverage. This study aimed to (i) compare the prevalence and factors associated with acute morbidities between CLHIV and HIV-exposed uninfected children (HEUC) and (ii) estimate survival probabilities over a two-year follow-up period in a community-based cohort from North Karnataka.
Materials and methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in Belagavi district. Data were collected over eight visits between April 2022 and March 2024. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of KAHER and SNMC, and permission was granted by the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between HIV status and acute morbidities at baseline and endline, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test.
Results: A total of 348 children (184 CLHIV and 164 HEUC) with complete baseline and endline data were included in the morbidity analysis, whereas 372 children who were followed for their survival were included in the survival analysis. CLHIV were generally older and more often male. Among CLHIV, 19.0% had lost both parents, compared to 6.1% among HEUC. CLHIV showed higher gastrointestinal and skin morbidity. The adjusted odds of morbidity were ~2-fold at baseline and ~3-fold at the endline. Survival remained high (99% at 1 year and 98% at 2 years), with four deaths recorded.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that CLHIV in North Karnataka experience a substantial burden of morbidity. These health challenges are compounded by social factors, such as orphanhood and limited school attendance. The longitudinal design provides important findings to guide policy decisions and health interventions for vulnerable populations.
Related
- Impact of breastfeeding beyond 12 months on HIV transmission, mortality and morbidity among HIV-exposed uninfected infants in sub-Saharan Africa: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
- A cross-sectional study of patients’ morbidity profiles and doctors’ drug prescribing patterns from outpatient departments of a community health centre from a district of Uttarakhand
- Formative evaluation of an existing community-based intervention for alcohol addiction in the Soliga tribal community in Chamarajanagar, Karnataka.
- Surgical Impact on Postoperative Morbidity in Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.
- Sural Nerve Graft Donor-Site Morbidity in Nipple-Areola Complex Sensory Reinnervation: A Prospective Cohort Study.
BibTeX
@article{dorle2026morbidity,
title = {{Morbidity patterns and survival among children living with HIV and HIV-exposed uninfected children in North Karnataka, India: a community-based prospective cohort study}},
author = {Ashok S. Dorle and Mubashir Angolkar and R. Manjula and Jayaraj Mhetri and Mayank Singh and Nagaraj B. Patil and Sukanya Sarma and Prabhu Bilagi and Rajeev Sethumadhavan and Anju Sinha},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1823720},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13672499},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Morbidity patterns and survival among children living with HIV and HIV-exposed uninfected children in North Karnataka, India: a community-based prospective cohort study
AU - Ashok S. Dorle
AU - Mubashir Angolkar
AU - R. Manjula
AU - Jayaraj Mhetri
AU - Mayank Singh
AU - Nagaraj B. Patil
AU - Sukanya Sarma
AU - Prabhu Bilagi
AU - Rajeev Sethumadhavan
AU - Anju Sinha
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Frontiers in public health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1823720
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13672499
AB - Background: Children living with HIV (CLHIV) continue to face high rates of infection and morbidity despite improved ART coverage. This study aimed to (i) compare the prevalence and factors associated with acute morbidities between CLHIV and HIV-exposed uninfected children (HEUC) and (ii) estimate survival probabilities over a two-year follow-up period in a community-based cohort from North Karnataka. Materials and methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in Belagavi district. Data were collected over eight visits between April 2022 and March 2024. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of KAHER and SNMC, and permission was granted by the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between HIV status and acute morbidities at baseline and endline, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test. Results: A total of 348 children (184 CLHIV and 164 HEUC) with complete baseline and endline data were included in the morbidity analysis, whereas 372 children who were followed for their survival were included in the survival analysis. CLHIV were generally older and more often male. Among CLHIV, 19.0% had lost both parents, compared to 6.1% among HEUC. CLHIV showed higher gastrointestinal and skin morbidity. The adjusted odds of morbidity were ~2-fold at baseline and ~3-fold at the endline. Survival remained high (99% at 1 year and 98% at 2 years), with four deaths recorded. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that CLHIV in North Karnataka experience a substantial burden of morbidity. These health challenges are compounded by social factors, such as orphanhood and limited school attendance. The longitudinal design provides important findings to guide policy decisions and health interventions for vulnerable populations.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -