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BACKGROUND: In utero exposure to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-containing antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens may be associated with poor neurodevelopmental functioning in children of HIV-infected mothers. We investigated neurodevelopmental outcomes of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children of HIV-infected women enrolled in a randomized trial of abacavir/zidovudine/lamivudine (Triple-NRTI regimen) vs. lopinavir/ritonavir/zidovudine/lamivudine (Dual NRTI+PI regimen). SETTING: The Mma Bana randomized trial was conducted in urban and rural sites in Botswana. METHODS: The Mma Bana study randomized HIV-infected pregnant women with CD4 ≥ 200 cells/mm(3) to a triple-NRTI vs. dual-NRTI+PI regimen from 26–34 weeks gestation through planned weaning at 6 months postpartum. Partway through the study, neurodevelopmental assessments were added at 24 months of age, including the Developmental Milestones Checklist, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development 3(rd) edition, Ten Questions Questionnaire, and Profile of Social Emotional Development. We evaluated differences in mean scores between the two arms using unadjusted and adjusted linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 197 HEU infants (48% male) completed a neurodevelopmental assessment (101 in triple-NRTI arm; 96 in dual-NRTI+PI-exposed arm). Means for all neurodevelopmental outcomes were similar for children of mothers randomized to either ART regimen, with no significant differences in either unadjusted or adjusted models (estimated effect sizes ranging from −0.12 to 0.14). CONCLUSION: Neurodevelopmental outcomes in 24-month-old HEU children of HIV-infected mothers with baseline CD4≥200 were similar in those randomized to a dual-NRTI+PI-based versus a triple-NRTI-based ART regimen, suggestive of lack of short term toxicity. Monitoring of long term toxicity and newer regimens is warranted.

BACKGROUND:We sought to determine if HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children had worse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months compared with HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) children in Botswana.METHODS:HIV-infected and uninfected mothers enrolled in a prospective observational study (“Tshipidi”) in Botswana from May 2010 to July 2012. Child neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III: cognitive, gross motor, fine motor, expressive language, and receptive language domains) and the Development Milestones Checklist (DMC), a caregiver-completed questionnaire (locomotor, fine motor, language and personal-social domains). We used linear regression models to estimate the association of in-utero HIV exposure with neurodevelopment, adjusting for socioeconomic and maternal health characteristics.RESULTS:We evaluated 670 children (313 HEU, 357 HUU) with ≥1 valid Bayley-III domain assessed and 723 children (337 HEU, 386 HUU) with a DMC. Among the 337 HEU children with either assessment, 122 (36%) were exposed in utero to maternal 3-drug antiretroviral treatment and 214 (64%) to zidovudine. Almost all HUU children (99.5%) breastfed, compared with only 9% of HEU children. No domain score was significantly lower among HEU children in adjusted analyses. Bayley-III cognitive and DMC personal-social domain scores were significantly higher in HEU children than in HUU children, but differences were small.CONCLUSIONS:HEU children performed equally well on neurodevelopmental assessments at 24 months of age compared with HUU children. Given the global expansion of the HEU population, results suggesting no adverse impact of in-utero HIV and antiretroviral exposure on early neurodevelopment are reassuring.

Background Little is known about the impact of knowledge of HIV serostatus on pregnancy intention and contraceptive use in high-HIV-burden southern African settings in the era of widespread antiretroviral treatment availability. Methods We analyzed interview data collected among 473 HIV-uninfected and 468 HIV-infected pregnant and recently postpartum women at two sites in southern Botswana. Participants were interviewed about their knowledge of their HIV status prior to pregnancy, intendedness of the pregnancy, contraceptive use, and future childbearing desires. Results The median age of the 941 women was 27 years, median lifetime pregnancies was 2, and 416 (44 %) of pregnancies were unintended. Among women reporting unintended pregnancy, 36 % were not using a contraceptive method prior to conception. Among contraception users, 81 % used condoms, 13 % oral contraceptives and 5 % an injectable contraceptive. In univariable analysis, women with unintended pregnancy had a higher number of previous pregnancies (P =