title: Modeling breastmilk infectivity in HIV-1 infected mothers.
abstract: Estimation of breastmilk infectivity in HIV-1 infected mothers is difficult because transmission can occur while the fetus is in utero, during delivery, or through breastfeeding. Since transmission can only be detected through periodic testing, however, it may be impossible to determine the actual mode of transmission in any individual child. In this article we develop a model to estimate breastmilk infectivity, along with the probabilities of in-utero and intrapartum transmission. In addition, the model allows separate estimation of early and late breastmilk infectivity, and individual variation in maternal infectivity. Methods for hypothesis testing of binary risk factors and a method for assessing goodness of fit are also described. Data from a randomized trial of breastfeeding versus formula feeding among HIV-1 infected mothers in Nairobi, Kenya, are used to illustrate the methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359931, 325 Ninth Avenue Seattle, Washington 98104-2499, USA. barbrar@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Barbra A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors