Increased Morbidity in Early Childhood Among HIV-exposed Uninfected Children in Uganda is Associated with Breastfeeding Duration.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed uninfected children (HEU) have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality compared with HIV-unexposed uninfected children (HUU); however, prior studies have not fully accounted for the role of both breastfeeding and age on this association. In this cohort of HEU and HUU in Uganda, non-breastfeeding HEU, from 6–11 months compared with non-breastfeeding HUU had a higher risk of hospitalizations [relative risk (RR): 10.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.70–27.6], severe febrile illness (RR: 3.84, 95% CI: 2.06–7.17), severe diarrhea (RR: 6.37, 95% CI: 2.32–17.4) and severe malnutrition (RR: 18.4, 95% CI: 4.68–72.0). There were no differences between morbidity outcomes between breastfeeding HEU and HUU children, aged 6–11 months. In the 12–24 month age group, the only difference in morbidity outcomes among non-breast feeding children was an increased risk of severe malnutrition for HEU. These data suggest that the increased risk of morbidity among HEU aged 6–11 years is partially explained by early cessation of breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]