title: Breast-feeding and HIV--a balance of risks.
abstract: HIV-1 infection may be transmitted by breast-feeding. The risk of vertical transmission varies with the stage of maternal infection, but is 29 per cent if a mother acquires infection during lactation. The risk of infant death by not breast-feeding in a poor and contaminated environment is greater than the risk of HIV-infection when an HIV-positive mother breast-feeds. Vertical transmission can be reduced if women avoid high risk activities during pregnancy and especially lactation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Cutting
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000569:Americas; D001208:Asia; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007226:Infant Mortality; D009035:Mothers; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors