title: Exclusive breastfeeding and HIV/AIDS: a crossectional survey of mothers attending prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV clinics in southwestern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevention of Mother-To-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) guideline recommends replacement feeding where it is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe. Where this is un-achievable, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is recommended during the first six months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 HIV-positive using a two-stage sampling technique. Data on socio-demographics, infant feeding choice and factors influencing these choices were collected using semi-structured questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of the mothers (86.0%) were married and aged 31.0 ± 5.7 years. Slightly above half (53.0%) had ≤2 children and more than two-third had disclosed their HIV status to their spouses. About two-third (61.0%) were traders with 75.0% earning monthly income ≤N5,000.00k. Half of the mothers had ≥4 antenatal care visits and 85.0% had infant feeding counselling. Infant feeding choices among the mothers were EBF (61.0%), ERF (26.0%) and MF (13.0%). The choice of EBF was influenced by spouse influence (84.0%), family influence (81.0%) and fear of stigmatisation (53.0%). Predictors of EBF were; monthly income (AOR = 2.6, C.I. =1.4-4.5), infant feeding counselling (AOR = 2.7, C.I. = 1.6-6.9) and fear of stigmatisation (AOR = 7. 2, C.I. = 2.1-23.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV positive mothers are faced with multiple challenges as they strive to practice exclusive breastfeeding. More extensive and comprehensive approach of infant feeding counseling with emphasis on behavioural change programmes in the context of HIV/AIDS within communities is advocated.
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja, Nigeria ; Department of Community Medicine, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aishat
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja, Nigeria ; Department of Epidemiology and Medical statistics, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Dairo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja, Nigeria ; Department of Epidemiology and Medical statistics, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Fawole
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olufunmilayo
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009549:Nigeria; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV clinics; Mother-to-child transmission; exclusive breastfeeding