Journal of Public Health and Diseases

The impact of HIV on the health transmission of Paediatric is largely unknown in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This work aimed to determine the prevalence and the impact of HIV infection among children under 5 years old in Nsukka Local Government Area. Methods: A facility-based study among mothers/guardians with their under-5 years children exposed to HIV infection. Information on HIV status, socio-demographic and other family characteristics was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 13.0. Results showed that 876 children under five years old who were HIV-exposed were recruited, along with their mothers or guardians. The HIV prevalence among under-5-year-old children was 9.70% (95% CI: 7.1-12.1%). The burden of HIV infection was observed to be higher among females 10.3% than male 8.72%, within older children aged 24 to 36 months (AOR = 7.0, 95% CI 2.4 - 25.1) than in the younger children. There was a four-fold (AOR=3.9, 95% CI 1.7-9.1) risk of HIV infection among children born to mothers of unknown HIV status at conception than among children born to mothers with known HIV status. The odds of HIV infection were higher among children who were delivered from home (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.5), received mixed feeding (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.9), and those living far from a health facility (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.5). In conclusion, the prevalence of HIV among children under 5 years old in Nsukka LGA is higher among older children. The high prevalence is associated with being born to mothers with unknown HIV status at conception, receiving mixed feeding, home delivery, and living far from the health facility. Campaigns that provide health educational messages addressing risk factors of HIV need to be emphasised to promote the control and prevention of HIV among children.