The Neurocognitive Assessment of HIV-Infected School-Aged Nigerian Children

Abstract

Objective: Studies available on cognitive function among\rschool-aged HIV-infected African and in particular Nigerian children are few. The purpose of the study was to\rassess the neurocognitive function of a group of HIV-infected schoolaged (6 - 15 years) children using the Raven’s\rStandard Progressive Matrices (RPM). Method: Cognitive assessments of 69 HIV\rpositive children and 69 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy HIV negative\rcontrol children were performed using\rthe Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RPM). The children were subdivided\r(Piaget’s developmental staging) into two sub-groups: the concrete operation\rstage (6 - 11 years) and the formal operation stage (12 - 15 years) for analysis. Result: The mean RPM score for the HIV positive children\rwas 18.2 (8.0 - 47.0, SD 9.8) which was significantly lower than the score of 27.2 (8.0 - 52.0, SD 13.8) for the HIV negative\rchildren (p formance at below average to\rintellectually defective range. Conclusion: School-aged HIV positive children had significantly lower cognitive scores\rcompared with age and gender-matched HIV negative children. Routine neuropsychological evaluation of all\rschool-aged HIV-infected children is recommended. Early detection of cognitive\rimpairment will help in\rplanning appropriate interventions.