HIV prevalence among children admitted with severe acute malnutrition and associated factors with mother-to-child HIV transmission at Mulago Hospital, Uganda: A mixed methods study

This cross-sectional evaluation within the REDMOTHIV clinical trial investigated HIV prevalence among children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and their mothers at Mulago Hospital’s Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit. The study assessed child factors associated with HIV-infection and explored factors leading to HIV-infection among mother-child dyads that tested positive. From June 2021 to December 2022, children aged 1 month to 5 years with SAM were consecutively tested for HIV using rapid antibody testing, with confirmatory HIV-DNA PCR for antibody positive children under 18 months. In-depth interviews were conducted with mothers of HIV positive dyads to explore individual, relationship, social and structural factors associated with mother-to-child transmission.