[pronut-hiv] Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Era of AIDS

["ProNut-HIV" <pronut-hiv@healthnet.org>]

Source: HIV-infantfeeding@yahoogroups.com 
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Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Era of AIDS

Marina de Paoli, MSc, Rachel Manongi, MD, Msc,
Elisabet Helsing, PhD, Knut-Inge Klepp, PhD, MPH

Abstract
The aim of this studywas to describe breastfeeding practices, as well
as what pregnant women know about breastfeeding and mother-to-child
transmission (MTCT) of HIV, and explore factors associated with
exclusive breastfeeding, especially the presence of HIV/AIDS. A
crosssectional
interview survey of 500 pregnant women was conducted in the Kilimanjaro
region,supplemented by focus group discussions with pregnantwomen. Among
the 309 mothers having previously breastfed, 85% had initiated
breastfeeding within the first few hours postpartum, and 18% of newborns
received some prelacteal food. Mean duration of breastfeeding was 23.7
months, but 46% of mothers had introduced other fluids early. Knowledge
of HIV-transmission through breastfeeding was not associated with
breastfeeding practices.
Married women (odds ratio [OR] = .09, 95% confidence interval [CI] =
.04-.24) and those having knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (OR =
.08, 95% CI = .02-.31) were the least likely to end exclusive
breastfeeding early. Exclusive breastfeeding is a rare practice, and
MTCT of HIV may further complicate recommendations with regard to this
practice. 

J Hum Lact.17(4):000-000.

Keywords: breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, infant feeding,
prelacteal food, motherto-child transmission, sociodemographic
differences, Tanzania