Incidence of Pneumonia and Predictors Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Children at Public Health Institutions in the Northwest Part of Ethiopia: Multicenter Retrospective Follow-Up Study

INTRODUCTION: Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung parenchymal structure secondary to hematogens spread of pathogens, inhalation, or aspiration. It is also one of the most frequently occurring opportunistic infections in HIV-infected children. In Ethiopia, data on the incidence and predictors of opportunistic infection, especially pneumonia, among HIV-infected children is very limited. Hence, this study aimed to assess the incidence of pneumonia and predictors among HIV-infected children at public health institutions in the Northwest part of Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 342 HIV-infected children at public health institutions from January 1, 2013 to December 30, 2020. Log rank test was used to compare the survival curves between different explanatory variables. Bivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed for each explanatory variable to check the association with the outcome variable. Variables found to have a p-value of < 0.25 in the bivariable analysis were candidates for the multi-variable proportional hazard model. Cox proportional hazards model was used at 5% level of significance to identify predictors of pneumonia. RESULTS: This study included 342 records of HIV-infected children who started antiretroviral therapy between the periods of January 1, 2013 to December 30, 2020. The overall incidence rate of pneumonia during the follow-up time was 5.57 (95% CI: 4.4, 7.0) per 100 child-years of observation. Those children who did not take cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (AHR: 3, 95% CI: 1.40, 6.44), being underweight at baseline (AHR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.41, 4.86), having baseline advanced disease (clinical stages III and IV) (AHR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.30, 6.04), and presenting with recently detected viral load (AHR: 5.9, 95% CI: 2.53, 14.06), were more likely to develop pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Pneumonia incidence rate was high. Providing prophylaxis and nutritional supplementation for those children with baseline advanced disease stage, low weight for age and detectable viral load would reduce pneumonia occurrence.