Anthropometric measurements of HIV-infected children aged one to five years in a tertiary hospital in Lagos Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the association between HIV infection and anthropometric measures (weight, height, midupper arm circumference and head circumference) of children aged one to five years.

Method: A cross sectional descriptive study using structured questionnaire and measurement of weight, height, head and midupper arm circumference of 846 infected children and matched controls.

Results: The mean weights of the controls were significantly higher than those of the infected children at all age groups (p<0.005) while, the controls were significantly taller than the infected children after 49months (p=0.019). The controls had bigger arm than the infected (p=<0.029) while the head circumference was also significantly higher in the controls (p=<0.033) with the difference being more in the children aged less than 3 years.

Conclusion: HIV infection has a profound association with growth being earliest on the head size, followed by weight and then height.

Keywords: HIV, children, weight, height, MUAC, head circumference