Modeling the effects of different infant feeding strategies on infant survival and mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated how, under various conditions, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastfeeding compares with the risk of death from artificial feeding.


METHODS
We developed a spreadsheet simulation model to predict HIV-free survival during 7 age intervals from 0 to 24 months for 5 different infant feeding scenarios in resource-poor settings.


RESULTS
Compared with artificial feeding, breastfeeding during the first 6 months by HIV-positive mothers increases HIV-free survival by 32 per 1000 live births. After 6 months, as the age-specific mortality rate and risk of death caused by replacement feeding both decline, replacement feeding appears to be safer.


CONCLUSIONS
Under conditions common in countries with high HIV prevalence, replacement feeding by HIV-infected mothers should not be generally encouraged until after the infant is approximately 6 months old.
Ross
Jay S
JS
Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC, USA. jayross@aed.org
Labbok
Miriam H
MH
D000367:Age Factors; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002423:Cause of Death; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003663:Decision Trees; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis