The physical sequelae of growing into adolescence with perinatally acquired HIV: a scoping review

Abstract

Background

Adolescents living with perinatal HIV (PHIVA) are a growing population with unique needs. While the impact of HIV on pediatric physical wellbeing is expansively documented, there is only emerging data on the long-term impact of perinatal HIV infection on adolescence and the resultant physical sequelae.

Objective

This scoping review aimed to identify and describe what is currently known about the physical sequelae that PHIVA face.

Method

A scoping review was conducted, following the methodology described by the Johanna Briggs Institute manual for Evidence Synthesis. Electronic databases of MEDLINE (PubMed), PEDro, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Elsevier (Scopus), Elsevier (Science Direct), Google Scholar, CDC Stacks and Open Grey, and reference lists were searched. Two investigators screened the article titles, abstracts and full texts against the inclusion criteria. Data was charted on a data extraction tool, with a descriptive narrative presenting the results.

Results

Of the 1291 citations screened, eight studies were included. All of the studies were cross-sectional analyses, with only two studies using an HIV-negative comparison group. The studies addressed the physical outcomes of height, weight, body mass index, delayed puberty, physical functioning and activity levels, exercise tolerance and lung function, and pain. These sequelae were categorized into two subgroups: 1) anthropometric characteristics and 2) physical health and functioning.

Conclusion

The results of this scoping review show that PHIVA face significant physical challenges despite access to antiretroviral therapy. Thus this distinctive population requires unique and specialized healthcare.

Keywords:

• HIV
• adolescence
• perinatal
• physical sequelae
• vertically transmitted

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Aaron Mwafulirwa for his assistance in searching for the full-text manuscripts for the scoping review. Additionally, the South African Society of Physiotherapy granted funding that enabled this study.

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Ethics

The scoping review did not involve human participants thus no ethical clearance certificate was required.

Patient consent statement

The scoping review did not involve human participants thus no patient consent was required.

Additional information

Funding

Funding was obtained through the South African Society of Physiotherapy.

Notes on contributors

Nicolette Comley-White

Nicolette Comley-White is a physiotherapy lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Her area of specialty is adult neurology and HIV, and she lecturers undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy students. She is currently a PhD candidate, with her research addressing the physical sequelae of perinatal HIV in adolescents.

Joanne Potterton

Joanne Potterton is a professor in the physiotherapy department at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is responsible for teaching paediatric physiotherapy at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Joanne’s main research interest is paediatric HIV and its effect on child development. The majority of her research has been carried out through the Empliweni Service and Research Unit at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. Her research has contributed to understanding the complex interplay between HIV infection and social deprivation and the impact this has on infant and child development.

Veronica Ntsiea

Veronica Ntsiea is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Physiotherapy at University of the Witwatersrand: Qualifications: BSc Physiotherapy MEDUNSA (1995); MPH Wits (2006); PhD Wits (2013). She has published widely in ISI and DHET accredited local and international journals (articles are mainly in the field of rehabilitation of people with brain lesions, education and general physiotherapy practice); has presented papers at local, national and international congresses; and has supervised numerous PhD and MSc students to completion. She serves as a manuscript reviewer for national and international journals and also serves as a research grants application reviewer for the National research foundation and the Medical research council of South Africa. Prof Ntsiea has a C2 National Research Foundation rating which is a national recognition as an established researcher. She has an interest in professional matters: A member of the South African Society of Physiotherapy, a member of the National Physiotherapy Educators forum, a trustee of the South African Society of Physiotherapy Education Trust, served as a member of the clinical expert advisory panel of the South African Council of Medical schemes by invitation and currently serves as a member of the Gauteng Stroke working group.