Neurodevelopment in early treated HIV-infected infants participating in a developmental stimulation programme compared with controls.

BACKGROUND

Neurodevelopmental stimulation programmes can improve developmental outcomes. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) started soon after birth potentially limits the invasion of HIV into the central nervous system. A combination of developmental stimulation and early ART initiation may reduce developmental delays in children with perinatally acquired HIV infection.

METHODS

At a single site in Johannesburg, South Africa, we enrolled 36 HIV-infected neonates on ART into an intervention group (IG) participating in a yearlong home-based, neurodevelopmental stimulation programme. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-3rd Edition (BSID-III) assessments were conducted at 12 months. Scores were compared with 24 early treated HIV-infected infants in an observational group (OG). BSID-III assessments were also conducted for older children in an OG at 24 or 36 months. Cognitive, language and motor scaled and composite scores were analysed.

RESULTS

BSID-III scaled and composite scores were all higher in the IG apart from the gross motor scaled score (9.25 vs. 10, p = 0.1954). Receptive communication scaled score was significantly higher in the IG (10.96 vs. 9, p = 0.0331). IG composite scores were all higher than OG scores. OG children assessed at 24 or 36 months had lower composite scores in all subscales than 12-month OG scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Early treated HIV-infected children participating in a neurodevelopmental stimulation programme achieved higher BSID-III scores at 12 months compared with early treated HIV-infected children who did not receive the programme.