ABSTRACT

HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children may be at-risk for poorer academic achievement compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) children due to in utero and perinatal exposure to HIV and/or anti-retroviral (ARV) medication. Understanding the risk factors for academic underachievement is important for implementing timely intervention and academic supports. HEU (N = 110, mean (SD) age 5.59 (0.22) years) and HUU (N = 43, mean (SD) age 5.73 (0.64) years) children completed assessments of general intelligence (WPPSI-III) and academic achievement (WRAT-4). Parent interviews and medical record reviews were used to obtain sociodemographic and maternal health data. HUU children scored significantly higher than HEU children on single word reading (p = 0.006), math calculation skills (p = 0.003), Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, Full Scale IQ, and Processing Speed (all WPPSI-III measures p < 0.001). Verbal IQ at 3–4 years predicted academic achievement at 5–6 years of age, yet sociodemographic and medical factors did not. These findings demonstrate that HEU children obtained significantly lower scores of intellectual, reading, and math abilities during early childhood. Addressing these early gaps before HEU children enter primary school will be critical for optimizing their learning and academic potential.

摘要

与未接触艾滋病毒的未感染（HUU）儿童相比，未接触艾滋病毒的未感染（HEU）儿童可能会面临宫内和围产期暴露于艾滋病毒和/或抗逆转录病毒（ARV）药物的不良学业风险。了解学业成绩不佳的风险因素对于及时实施干预和学业支持很重要。HEU（N = 110，平均（SD）年龄5.59（0.22）岁）和HUU（N = 43，平均（SD）年龄5.73（0.64）岁）儿童完成了对一般智力（WPPSI-III）和学习成绩的评估（ WRAT-4）。父母访谈和病历审查被用来获得社会人口统计学和孕产妇健康数据。在单字阅读（p = 0.006），数学计算技能（p = 0.003），语言智商，表现智商，全面智商，和处理速度（所有WPPSI-III的测量值p <0.001）。3-4岁的语言智商可预测5-6岁的学业成绩，但社会人口统计学和医学因素却没有。这些发现表明，HEU儿童在幼儿期获得的智力，阅读和数学能力得分明显较低。在HEU儿童进入小学之前解决这些早期差距对于优化他们的学习和学术潜力至关重要。