title: Human immunodeficiency virus transmission during breastfeeding: knowledge, gaps, and challenges for the future.
abstract: A number of risk factors for HIV transmission during breastfeeding have been identified. The experience counseling HIV-infected women on infant feeding options has expanded to consider these risk factors. Programmatic evidence is limited, but the review presented here strongly argues for an end to the polarized debate about whether HIV-infected women should breast or formula feed. In reality, neither alternative is risk-free for HIV-exposed infants, and the balance of risks varies in different settings and over time.
authors.affiliation: SARA Project, Academy for Educational Development, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. epiwoz@aed.org
authors.forename: Ellen G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Piwoz
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Humphrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019562:Viral Load