Background and aims: Determining the growth of HIV-exposed preterm infants would create a better understanding of the effects of this infectious disease on the nutritional status. This study aimed to determine the growth and nutritional intake of HIV-exposed and -unexposed preterm, very low birth weight infants. 
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. Very low birth weight (<1200g) HIV-exposed and -unexposed infants were included. Anthropometrical measurements, intakes and feeding tolerance were monitored for 28 days. 
Results: 113 Infants were included in the study (26.5%; n = 30 HIV-exposed and 73.5%; n = 83 HIV-unexposed). The mean birth weight was 971.06 g (± 162.92 g). The HIV-unexposed infants had a higher mean birth weight than the HIV-exposed group. The two groups gained weight at a similar rate until day 14 of life. The HIV-unexposed group had greater lengths at birth (p = 0.016) and day 28 of life (p = 0.004). Full feeds were achieved on day 12.5 (± 3.71) and day 11.37 (± 3.31) of life for the HIV-exposed and unexposed groups respectively, but the difference was not significant. 
This study found that there was no correlation between the duration of maternal HAART and gestational age (r = 0.06) or birth weight (r = 0.08). There were no differences in the incidence of signs of feeding intolerance between the groups.
Conclusion: HIV exposure influences the growth of premature infants, irrespective of nutritional intake. HIV-exposed infants had poorer growth rates.

GROWTH AND NUTRITIONAL INTAKE OF HIV EXPOSED PRETERM, VERY LOW AND EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS AT TYGERBERG HOSPITAL, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA