Mortality risk factors among HIV‐exposed infants in rural and urban Cameroon

Objectives HIV‐exposed infants, including those who do not become infected, have higher morbidity and mortality rates than HIV unexposed infants. The underlying mechanisms of this difference are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for mortality among HIV‐exposed (infected as well as uninfected) infants in a prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT) programme in Cameroon. Methods We analysed the data from 319 mother‐infant pairs included in a PMTCT programme at a rural and an urban hospital between 2004 and 2012. The programme offered free formula feeding, monthly follow‐up visits and antiretroviral therapy (ART) according to national PMTCT guidelines. Mother‐infant pairs were divided in three study groups, based on year of recruitment and study site: (I) rural hospital, 2004–07; (II) rural hospital, 2008–12; (III) urban hospital, 2008–12. Results Two hundred and eighty‐five medical records were included in the final analysis. Infant mortality rates were 23.9%, 20.0% and 5.3% in group I, II and III, respectively (P = 0.02). Hazard ratios of infant mortality were 6.4 (P