Objective To investigate physical development of children born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected pregnant women, so as to provide evidence for optimizing health management for them.

Methods Children born to HIV infected pregnant women reported in Zhejiang Provincial information system of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV from Jan, 2020 to Dec, 2022 were recruited as study subjects. They were divided into low and high risk of HIV exposure children based on whether the mother had finished 12 full weeks’ antivirus treatment. Body length, body weight of all children born to HIV infected pregnant women and low risk of HIV exposure children were compared with national standards by gender. Because of insufficient numbers of high risk of HIV exposure children, they were not involved in group analysis.

Results The incidence of low birth weight and preterm birth in children born to HIV infected pregnant women was 13.09% and 9.42% respectively. 10.47% of children were high risk of HIV exposure. Excluded preterm birth and low birth weight newborns, boys’ weight was lower at 0, 1, 3 months of age, while girls’ weight was lower at birth compared with national standards (P < 0.05). Regardless of gender, their height was below the national standard at 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months of age, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Six cases(4.32%) and 6 cases(6.52%) were physical dysplasia at 12 and 18 months, all of which were dysplasia of body length.

Conclusion Children born to HIV-infected pregnant women are at higher risk of low birth weight and preterm birth, and their height is significantly below the national standards, especially for girls. Further in-depth research should be conducted on the factors associated with it in order to reduce the adverse effects of HIV exposure on children’s growth.