Disease profile, HIV prevalence and vaccination status of HIV-infected children admitted at a hospital complex, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Despite the availability of vertical transmission prevention, treatment, and immunisation programmes for better health outcomes, children are still infected affected by HIV/AIDS. Those accessing treatment either virally unsuppressed or have severe forms diseases, while others missed opportunities vaccination. HIV vulnerable to infections, re-hospitalisation, missing vaccinations. The study determined disease profile, prevalence, readmission, status admitted Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Northern Cape Province, South Africa. This was a retrospective review 328 medical records less than 14 years, from January 2017 2018. mean age 3.6 majority were females. Most presented with appetite loss fatigue, most common admission diagnoses lower respiratory tract infection acute gastroenteritis. prevalence this group 24%. Over 50% readmitted, 17% those positive. positive (62%) had vaccinations, predominantly measles, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Older children, HIV, who measles vaccine significantly associated readmission. Children mothers higher educational single married likely be readmitted compared education level divorced parents. rate readmission is relatively high; therefore, improving care scaling up catch-up immunisations especially among HIV-infected, may offer them protection outcomes against vaccine-preventable diseases considering their risk incomplete infectious diseases.