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Children born to mothers living with HIV may experience greater risk of poor growth and development outcomes than their HIV-unexposed peers. Few studies have examined the relationship between maternal depression and social support with infant growth and development in the context of HIV. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 2,298 pregnant women living with HIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, assessing antenatal depression (Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25) and social support (Duke–UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire) at 12–27 weeks of gestation. At one-year age, infant anthropometry and caregiver-reported infant development were assessed. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess mean differences (MD) and relative risks (RR) for growth and developmental outcomes. Symptoms consistent with maternal antenatal depression had 67% prevalence and were associated with infant wasting (RR 2.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–6.65; z = 2.02; p = 0.04), but no other growth or developmental outcomes. Greater maternal social support was not associated with infant growth outcomes. Greater affective support was associated with better cognitive (MD 0.18; CI 0.01–0.35; z = 2.14; p = 0.03) and motor (MD 0.16; CI 0.01–0.31; z = 2.04; p = 0.04) development scores. Greater instrumental support was associated with better cognitive (MD 0.26; CI 0.10–0.42; z = 3.15; p < 0.01), motor (MD 0.17; CI 0.02–0.33; z = 2.22; p = 0.03), and overall (MD 0.19; CI 0.03–0.35; z = 2.35; p = 0.02) development scores. Depressive symptoms were associated with greater risk of wasting, while social support was associated with better infant development scores. Strategies to improve mental health and social support for mothers living with HIV during the antenatal period may benefit infant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation during pregnancy reduces the risk of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission; however, studies have suggested that there may be unintended adverse consequences on birth outcomes for selected cART regimens.Methods: We analyzed adverse birth outcomes among a prospective cohort of 1307 pregnant women with HIV in Dar es Salaam who initiated cART during the first or second trimester of a singleton pregnancy. Our primary analysis compared birth outcomes by gestational age at cART initiation among these women initiating cART in pregnancy.Results: Among women who initiated cART in pregnancy, there was no relationship of gestational age at cART initiation with the risk of fetal death or stillbirth. However, women who initiated cART before 20 weeks of gestation compared with after 20 weeks had increased risk of preterm birth (risk ratio [RR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.67) but decreased risk of small-for-gestational age birth (RR, 0.71; 95% CI, .55-.93).Conclusions: With increasing use of cART preconception and early in pregnancy, clinicians should be aware of the benefits and potential risks of cART regimens to optimize birth outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited information is available on the association between depression and viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLH) in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 3996 adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Log-binomial models were used to assess the association between depression and the risk of an unsuppressed viral load (> 400 copies/mL) after 6 months of ART. Women who had depression at both initiation and after 6 months of treatment had 1.94 times (95% CI 1.22, 3.09; z = 2.78, p < 0.01) the risk of an unsuppressed viral load after 6 months of treatment as compared to women who did not have depression at either time point. Men with the top tertile of depressive symptoms after 6 months of treatment had 1.58 times the risk of an unsuppressed viral load (95% CI 1.04, 2.38; z = 2.15, p = 0.03) as compared to the lowest tertile. Research should be pursued on interventions to prevent and address depression among adults initiating ART to potentially support achievement of viral suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria infection during pregnancy has negative health consequences for both mothers and offspring. Sub-microscopic malaria infection during pregnancy is common in most African countries. We sought to identify factors associated with sub-microscopic placental malaria, and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes among HIV-negative pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods: We recruited a cohort of pregnant women during their first trimester and assessed for the occurrence of placental malaria and pregnancy outcomes. The follow-up was done monthly from recruitment until delivery. Histopathology placental malaria positive results were defined as the presence of malaria pigment or parasitized erythrocytes on the slide (histology-positive (HP)), and the sub-microscopic placental infection was defined as positive Plasmodium falciparum DNA by polymerase chain reaction (DNA PCR) amplification in a negative histopathology test. Adverse pregnancy outcomes investigated included low birth weight (birth weight below 2.5 kg), prematurity (live birth below 37 weeks), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (live born with a birth weight below 10th percentile for gestational age and sex). Weighted baseline category logit, log-binomial, and log-Poisson models were used to assess factors associated with placental malaria, and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.Results: Among 1115 women who had histopathology and DNA PCR performed, 93 (8%) had HP placental infection, and 136 (12%) had the sub-microscopic placental infection. The risk of sub-microscopic placental malaria was greater in women who did not use mosquito prevention methods such as bed nets, fumigation, or mosquito coils (odds ratio (OR) = 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-2.92; P = 0.03) and in women who were anemic (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.20-2.11; P = 0.001). Women who were underweight had reduced odds of sub-microscopic placental malaria infection (OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.17-0.62; P = 0.001). Women who were overweight/obese had 1.48 times higher the odds of HP placental malaria compared to normal weight (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03-2.11; P = 0.03). HP placental malaria infection was associated with an increased risk of SGA births (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.98-1.72, P = 0.07). In contrast, the sub-microscopic infection was associated with a reduced risk of SGA births (RR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43-0.88, P = 0.01). Placental malaria was not associated with low birth weight or prematurity.Conclusion: Malaria prevention methods and maternal nutrition status during early pregnancy were important predictors of sub-microscopic placental malaria. More research is needed to understand sub-microscopic placental malaria and the possible mechanisms mediating the association between placental malaria and SGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hematological status may predict HIV disease progression and mortality among adults initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Objectives: We aimed to examine the relation of anemia and iron status at HAART initiation with survival and morbidity outcomes.Methods: We conducted a case-cohort study of 570 HIV-infected adults initiating HAART who were enrolled in a trial of multivitamins in Tanzania. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and hepcidin concentrations were assessed at HAART initiation and participants were followed up monthly. We adjusted serum ferritin for inflammation using a regression correction method to characterize hematological status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs for mortality and incident clinical outcomes.Results: We found an 83% prevalence of anemia, 15% prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, and 66% prevalence of anemia of chronic diseases (ACD). The prevalence of elevated iron was 33% and 19% had iron deficiency (ID). After multivariate adjustment, severe anemia (HR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.49, 4.45) and ACD (HR: 4.71; 95% CI: 2.91, 7.62) were associated with increased risk of mortality as compared with nonanemic participants. In addition, both ID (HR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.08, 7.78) and elevated iron (HR: 2.83; 95% CI: 2.10, 3.82) were associated with increased risk of mortality as compared with normal iron concentrations. Severe anemia and elevated iron concentrations were associated with incident wasting and >10% weight loss (P values <0.05).Conclusions: Anemia and both ID and elevated iron were associated with increased mortality among HIV-infected adults initiating HAART. Safety and efficacy studies including anemia etiology, timing of HAART initiation, and dose of iron supplementation among HIV patients appear warranted.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00383669. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: Screening and diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is cumbersome as it may require testing for hemoglobin, ferritin, and an inflammatory biomarker. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic capacity of hematologic biomarkers to detect IDA among pregnant women in Tanzania.Subjects/methods: We pooled data from an iron supplementation trial of 1500 iron-replete pregnant woman and a prospective cohort of 600 iron-deficient pregnant women. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) for hematologic biomarkers were used to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) for iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), crude, or corrected for inflammation. Regression models assessed the relationship of baseline biomarker categories (gestational age <27 weeks) and IDA at delivery.Results: Hemoglobin had the largest AUC for crude ID (0.96), while hepcidin had the largest AUC for corrected ID (0.80). The optimal hepcidin cutoff for the diagnosis of corrected IDA based on maximal sensitivity and specificity was ≤1.6 µg/L. An hepcidin cutoff of <4.3 µg/L had a sensitivity of 95% for regression-corrected ID. Among iron-replete women who did not receive iron, the association of baseline hemoglobin >110 g/L with IDA at delivery (RR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.13) was attenuated. Baseline hepcidin >1.6 µg/L was associated with reduced risk of anemia at delivery by 49% (95% CI: 27%, 45%).Conclusions: Ascertaining hemoglobin and hepcidin levels may improve the targeting of iron supplementation programs in resource-limited countries, though hepcidin's high costs may limit its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some evidence suggests that aflatoxin may contribute to the high prevalence of stunting observed in low‐income countries. Whereas several studies have been conducted in West Africa, fewer exist in East Africa and even fewer in nonagricultural contexts. We analyzed serum samples from 400 iron‐replete, nonanemic pregnant women from a cohort in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to determine the extent and magnitude of exposure to aflatoxin and to study the relationship between levels of aflatoxin exposure in utero and infant birth and growth outcomes. Ninety‐nine percent of women had detectable concentrations of aflatoxin B1‐lysine (AFB1‐lysine), with a median level of 1.4‐pg/mg albumin, indicating a much lower level compared to studies of rural populations in sub‐Saharan Africa. Our results do not show a statistically significant relationship between AFB1‐lysine levels and birth weight, small for gestational age, or prematurity. We observe a small statistically significant reduction in gestational age at delivery (0.47 weeks; 95% CI: −0.86, −0.07) as the natural log of AFB1‐lysine levels increases by 1 unit of pg/mg of albumin, after controlling for potential confounders. Among a nonrandom set of infants who had measurements for placental weight, haemoglobin at delivery, and follow‐up z‐score measurements, we find no association between aflatoxin plasma concentrations and these variables. These findings suggest a high prevalence of chronic low‐level exposure to aflatoxin, though its effect on birth outcomes in this population remains unclear. Our research adds to a growing body of literature finding mixed associations between aflatoxins on pregnancy outcomes and child growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • About one tenth of pregnant women had acute rubella infections. • IgM seropositivity decreased significantly with gestation age. • More than ¾ of IgM seropositive women had adverse pregnancy outcomes. • One tenth of IgM positive women delivered neonates with CRS. Abstract Objective This study investigated the adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women with acute Rubella infections in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods A longitudinal study was conducted between 2014 and 2016 among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. Women were screened for Rubella IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). IgM seropositive pregnant women were followed up until the end of the pregnancy to determine Congenital Rubella Syndrome, congenital infections and other pregnancy outcomes. Results The median age of 685 enrolled pregnant women was 23 (IQR: 19–27) years. A total of 629(91.8%) were Rubella IgG seropositive while 61 (8.9%) were IgM seropositive. The IgM seropositivity was found to decrease significantly from first trimester to third trimester, p < 0.001. Forty six (83.6%) of 55 Rubella IgM seropositive women had adverse pregnancy outcomes and 6 (10.9%) delivered neonates with CRS, making the overall incidence of CRS to be 6/685 (0.87%). First trimester IgM seropositive women had significantly higher adverse pregnancy outcomes than those in second/third trimesters (70.4% vs. 35.7, p = 0.01). Conclusion There is one case of CRS in every 100 pregnancies necessitating additional strategies to reach a goal of elimination of CRS in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the reasons why Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for Tuberculosis (TB) is not widely used in low income countries is concerns on cost of excluding active TB. We analyzed the cost-effectiveness of IPT provision in Tanzania having ruled out active TB by a symptom-based screening tool.Methods: Data on IPT cost-effectiveness was prospectively collected from an observational cohort study of 1283 HIV-infected patients on IPT and 1281 controls; followed up for 24 months. The time horizon for the analysis was 2 years. Number of TB cases prevented and deaths averted were used for effectiveness. A micro costing approach was used from a provider perspective. Cost was estimated on the basis of clinical records, market price or interviews with medical staff. We annualized the cost at a discount of 3%. A univariate sensitivity analysis was done. Results are presented in US$ at an average annual exchange rate for the year 2012 which was Tanzania shillings 1562.4 for 1 US $.Results: The number of TB cases prevented was 420/100,000 persons receiving IPT. The number of deaths averted was 979/100,000 persons receiving IPT. Incremental cost due to IPT provision was US$ 170,490. The incremental cost effective ratio was US $ 405.93 per TB case prevented and US $ 174.15 per death averted. These costs were less than 3 times the 768 US $ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for Tanzania in the year 2014, making IPT provision after ruling out active TB by the symptom-based screening tool cost-effective. The results were robust to changes in laboratory and radiological tests but not to changes in recurrent, personnel, medication and utility costs.Conclusion: IPT should be given to HIV-infected patients who screen negative to symptom-based TB screening questionnaire. Its cost-effectiveness supports government policy to integrate IPT to HIV/AIDS care and treatment in the country, given the availability of budget and the capacity of health facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The scale and impact of background isoniazid resistance in TB- and HIV-endemic countries requires definition to improve treatment success and guide the scale-up of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT). We describe the effects of isoniazid resistance on TB treatment outcomes among patients with or without HIV infection in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods: A multicentre, prospective observational study was conducted among TB patients commencing WHO-recommended first-line TB treatment. In multivariate analysis we ascertained the relationship between isoniazid resistance at presentation with a composite of poor treatment outcomes (death, failure or default from TB therapy).Results: Of 861 patients, 250 (29.0%) were HIV infected and 23 (2.7%) had isoniazid resistance. Seven hundred and ninety-seven (92.6%) of the patients were successfully treated and 25 (2.9%) died. Isoniazid resistance [relative risk (RR) = 6.0; 95% CI = 1.9-18.7; P  <   0.01] and HIV infection with (RR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.0-5.2; P  =   0.05) or without (RR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.5-6.2; P  <   0.01) ART were independent predictors of poor treatment outcomes.Conclusions: Background isoniazid resistance and HIV infection adversely affected TB treatment outcomes. Early laboratory detection of isoniazid resistance is important for successful TB therapy. Studies on the impact of background isoniazid resistance on the efficacy of isoniazid prophylaxis are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE Nine out of ten tuberculosis deaths occur in tuberculosis-burdened countries, particularly Sub Saharan Africa. In these setting mortality has not been fully described. We describe the magnitude and pattern of TB mortality in Tanzania. METHODS A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted among HIV infected and uninfected pulmonary tuberculosis patients from time of anti-TB treatment initiation to completion. Patients were censored at the time of treatment completion, or at their last visit for those who did not complete TB treatment. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate time to death; cox proportional hazards model was used to examine risk factors for mortality. RESULTS A total of 58 deaths out of 1696 patients (3.4%) occurred, two thirds (n = 39) during the first two months of treatment. Compared to HIV un-infected TB patients, mortality risk for TB/HIV co-infected patients was least when antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated after 14 days of anti-TB (RR = 3.55; 95% CI: 1.44, 8.73 p < 0.0001) and highest when ART was initiated 90 days or less prior to anti-TB and within the first 14 days of anti-TB therapy (RR = 10; 95% CI: 3.28, 30.54; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Meticulously planned and supervised antiretroviral therapy reduces mortality among TB/HIV patients. Among patients with TB/HIV naïve of ART, withholding ART until the third week of anti-tuberculosis therapy will likely reduce TB mortality in Tanzania. Patients on ART and later develop tuberculosis should be closely monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antibodies to LPS and flagellin have been described as indirect measures of increased gastrointestinal permeability and may be markers of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), which is a condition associated with poor child growth. Objective: We assessed whether LPS- and flagellin-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations were associated with poor growth in young Tanzanian children at risk of EED. Design: Blood samples were obtained from 590 children at 6 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo of age. Serum LPS- and flagellin-specific Ig concentrations (IgA and IgG) were measured with the use of an ELISA. Growth was measured on a monthly basis for 18 mo. Results: Anti-LPS and anti-flagellin IgA and IgG concentrations increased over the first year of life and were higher than concentrations (measured at 9 mo of age) in healthy controls. Children with anti-flagellin IgA, anti-LPS IgA, anti-flagellin IgG, and anti-LPS IgG concentrations in the highest quartile at 6 wk of age were 2.02 (95% CI: 1.11, 3.67), 1.84 (95% CI: 1.03, 3.27), 1.94 (95% CI: 1.04, 3.62), and 2.31 (95% CI: 1.25, 4.27) times, respectively, more likely to become underweight (weight-for-age z score <-22) after adjustment for covariates (P-trend < 0.05) than were children with Ig concentrations in the lowest quartile. Children with increased concentrations of anti-flagellin IgA were also more likely to become wasted; however, there was no association between any of the markers and subsequent stunting. Conclusion: Serologic measures of increased intestinal permeability to bacterial components are associated with subsequent poor growth and could help identify children who may benefit most from preventive interventions. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00421668. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor child growth increases risks of mortality and morbidity. Micronutrient supplements have the potential to improve child growth. Objective: We assessed the effect of daily zinc, multivitamin (vitamins C, E, and B-complex), and zinc and multivitamin (Zn+MV) supplementation on growth in infants in Tanzania. Design: In this randomized, 232 factorial, double-blind trial, 2400 infants were randomly assigned to receive zinc, multivitamins, Zn+MVs, or a placebo at 6 wk of age and were followed up for 18 mo with monthly growth measurements. Mixed-effects models with restricted cubic splines for the mean change in anthropometric z scores were fit for each group. Likelihood ratio tests were used to compare the effect of supplements on growth trajectories. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare incidences of stunting, wasting, and underweight. Results: Children in all groups experienced growth faltering. At 19 mo of age, prevalences of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 19.8%, 6.0%, and 10.8%, respectively. Changes in weight-for-age z scores (WAZs) and weight-for-height z scores (WHZs) were significantly different across the 4 groups (P < 0.001 for both). The mean ± SE decline in the WAZ from baseline to the end of follow-up in the Zn+MV group was significantly less than in the placebo group (-0.36 ± 0.04 compared with -0.50 ± 0.04; P = 0.020), whereas the decline in the WHZ was significantly greater in the zinc-only group than in the placebo group (-0.57 ± 0.07 compared with 20.35 ± 0.07; P = 0.021). Supplements did not have a significant effect on mean change in the height-for-age z score or on rates of stunting, wasting, or underweight. Conclusions: Although there were small but significant improvements in the WAZ in the Zn+MV group, daily zinc supplementation alone, multivitamin supplementation alone, and the combined Zn+MV did not reduce the incidences of underweight, stunting, or wasting in Tanzanian infants. Alternative approaches to prevent growth faltering should be pursued. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00421668. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature delivery, a significant cause of childmortality andmorbidityworldwide, is particularly prevalent in the developingworld. As HIV is highly prevalent in much of sub-Saharan Africa, it is important to determine risk factors for prematurity among HIVpositive pregnancies. The aims of this study were to identify risk factors of preterm (<37 weeks) and very preterm (<34 weeks) birth among a cohort of 927 HIV positive women living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, who enrolled in the Tanzania Vitamin and HIV Infection Trial between 1995 and 1997.Multivariable relative risk regression models were used to determine the association of potential maternal risk factors with premature and very premature delivery. High rates of preterm (24%) and very preterm birth (9%) were found. Risk factors (adjusted RR (95% CI)) for pretermbirth weremother <20 years (1.46 (1.10, 1.95)), maternal illiteracy (1.54 (1.10, 2.16)), malaria (1.42 (1.11, 1.81)), Entamoeba coli (1.49 (1.04, 2.15)), no or low pregnancy weight gain, and HIV disease stage ≥2 (1.41 (1.12, 1.50)). Interventions to reduce pregnancies in women under 20, prevent and treat malaria, reduce Entamoeba coli infection, and promote weight gain in pregnant women may have a protective effect on prematurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of low-cost point-of-care technologies to improve HIV treatment is a major focus of current research in resource-limited settings. Objective: We assessed associations of body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and weight change after 1 mo of treatment with mortality, morbidity, and CD4 T cell reconstitution. Design: A prospective cohort of 3389 Tanzanian adults initiating ART enrolled in a multivitamin trial was followed at monthly clinic visits (median: 19.7 mo). Proportional hazard models were used to analyze mortality and morbidity associations, whereas generalized estimating equations were used for CD4 T cell counts. Results: The median weight change at 1 mo of ART was +2.0% (IQR: -0.4% to +4.6%). The association of weight loss at 1 mo with subsequent mortality varied significantly by baseline BMI (P = 0.011). Participants with ≥2.5% weight loss had 6.43 times (95% CI: 3.78, 10.93 times) the hazard of mortality compared with that of participants with weight gains ≥2.5%, if their baseline BMI was <18.5 but only 2.73 times (95% CI: 1.49, 5.00 times) the hazard of mortality if their baseline BMI was ≥18.5 and <25.0. Weight loss at 1 mo was also associated with incident pneumonia (P = 0.002), oral thrush (P = 0.007), and pulmonary tuberculosis (P < 0.001) but not change in CD4 T cell counts (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Weight loss as early as 1 mo after ART initiation can identify adults at high risk of adverse outcomes. Studies identifying reasons for and managing early weight loss are needed to improve HIV treatment, with particular urgency for malnourished adults initiating ART. The parent trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00383669. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal iron supplementation may improve pregnancy outcomes and decrease the risk of child mortality. However, little is known about the importance of post-natal maternal iron status for child health and survival, particularly in the context of HIV infection. We examined the association of maternal anaemia and hypochromic microcytosis, an erythrocyte morphology consistent with iron deficiency, with child health and survival in the first two to five years of life. Repeated measures of maternal anaemia and hypochromic microcytosis from 840 HIV-positive women enrolled in a clinical trial of vitamin supplementation were prospectively related to child mortality, HIV infection and CD4 T-cell count. Median duration of follow-up for the endpoints of child mortality, HIV infection and CD4 cell count was 58, 17 and 23 months, respectively. Maternal anaemia and hypochromic microcytosis were associated with greater risk of child mortality [hazard ratio (HR) for severe anaemia = 2.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-4.01, P trend < 0.0001; HR for severe hypochromic microcytosis = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.27-4.38, P trend = 0.001]. Maternal anaemia was not significantly associated with greater risk of child HIV infection (HR for severe anaemia = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.91, 2.33, P trend = 0.08) but predicted lower CD4 T-cell counts among HIV-uninfected children (difference in CD4 T-cell count/ µL for severe anaemia: −93, 95% CI: −204-17, P trend = 0.02). The potential child health risks associated with maternal anaemia and iron deficiency may not be limited to the prenatal period. Efforts to reduce maternal anaemia and iron deficiency during pregnancy may need to be expanded to include the post-partum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complementary feeding is crucial for improving child survival and promoting growth and development, particularly among HIV-exposed children who have higher risk of morbidity and mortality than their un-exposed peers. This prospective study employed an infant and child feeding index (ICFI) to measure complementary feeding and determine its association with nutritional status among 2092 HIV-exposed infants followed from 6 to 24 months of age in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The ICFI measured both quality and quantity of complementary feeding, including current breastfeeding status, food consistency, dietary diversity scores (DDS), food group frequency score, and meal frequency. The ICFI score ranged from 0 to 9; the median score was 6 (Inter-Quartile Range, IQR= 4-7). After adjusting for potential confounders, high ICFI scores were associated with reduced risk of stunting (high vs. low tertile hazard ratio, HR: 0.72; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.57, 0.91; P< 0.01) and underweight (high vs. low tertile HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.02; P= 0.07). Low DDS were associated with higher risk of stunting (low vs. high tertile HR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.07; P< 0.01) and underweight (low vs. high tertile HR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.96; P= 0.01). In this setting, high DDS and ICFI scores were protective of stunting and underweight. We recommend for nutrition programs in low-income countries to emphasize educating HIV-exposed children's caregivers on the importance of dietary diversity and optimal complementary feeding to improve nutritional status in this important subpopulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]