The Effects of Stage of Disease, CD4 Percentages, Medication and Child-to-Adult Ratio on Cognitive Functioning in Children Infected with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Treatment in South Africa
Summary
With an estimated 5.7 million people living with HIV, South Africa is the country with the largest number of infections in the world. Patients with HIV/AIDS can be treated with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The introduction of HAART has led to a reduction in mortality. This study is done on behalf of the AIDS office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference that provides ARV (antiretroviral) medication necessary for HAART. This study concerns children with HIV/AIDS who are on ARV medication. The purpose of the current study is to examine the effect of different factors such as stage of disease, CD4 percentages, kind of medication and child-to-adult ratio on cognitive functioning. Previous studies indicate that stage of disease, as well as child-to-adult ratio, are significantly related to cognitive functioning in children infected with HIV/AIDS. Because CD4 percentage is more closely associated with cognitive performance than stage of disease, the CD4 percentages were also analysed in this study. The relationship between different kind of ARV medication and cognitive functioning has not yet been investigated. The current study involved 81 children (age 6-16) who are infected with HIV/AIDS. The Raven CPM was used to assess cognitive functioning. Also, questions about demographic facts and the child-to-adult ratio were asked. To obtain medical information concerning the children (stage of disease, CD4 percentage and medication) the medical files of the children were consulted. It was expected that all factors are significantly related to cognitive functioning. The results did not confirm this expectation. No significant effects were found of these factors on cognitive functioning. Even after controlling for the effect of age, still no significant relationship was found. In conclusion, these findings document no substantial relationship between stage of disease, kind of medication, CD4 percentages and child-to-adult ratio on the one hand and cognitive functioning of HIV/AIDS-infected children on the other.