The breast-feeding dilemma and its impact on HIV-infected women and their children.
The rate of HIV transmission via breast-feeding ranges from 14% to 26%, depending on the timing of maternal infection. In settings where infant mortality rates from infectious diseases and malnutrition are low and relatively safe alternatives to breast-feeding are available, HIV-infected mothers should be advised not to breast-feed. Where breast-feeding by HIV-infected mothers and bottle-feeding both present serious risks of mortality, changing the conditions in which families live so that safe feeding alternatives become available must be a top priority. At the same time, these mothers need information about the relative risks and benefits of breast-feeding, early weaning, wet-nursing, and formula feeding. This article reviews the available research data and discusses critical gaps in current knowledge.
Heymann
S J
SJ
Department of Health and Social Behavior, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Vo
P
P
D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning