[pronut-hiv] HIV Positive Moms Can Breastfeed Too; But as far as HIV Transmission Goes, Formula Has an Advantage

["Rachel Stern" <sternworks@verizon.net>]

C
ertainly, as far as hygiene, immunity, etc, etc, etc go, breastfeeding is 
the superior feeding method. But as far as HIV transmission goes, formula 
has an advantage.

I feel that mothers should be able to make their choice based on accurate 
information - pros and cons. Assuring them that breastfeeding is safe 
regarding hiv transmission, may be misleading them.


"Rachel Stern


-----"Jecinter oketch" wrote:


Dear Rachel,

  This si interesting study. I  completely agree with the study that EFF 
reduces risk of transmission as demotrated in the study but if you look at 
infant feeding holistically what are other health risks cost by EFF? could 
the cause more danger than harm if feed is not AFASS- which is mostly the 
case even where they provide them free. EFF in the long run may lead to high 
rates of mixed feeding which as demonstrated by the study is worse.

  We of course need to take it further are continue to find options or 
further minimizing the risk of tranmission from EBF may be reducing it to 
less than 3 months????? but certainly we should be carefull promoting 
alternatives such as EFF.

  Jecinter

----- Rachel Stern <sternworks@verizon.net> wrote:

Is this right? - to assure these mothers that breastfeeding is "safe?"

Mr. Seloba promises to inform women of their choices. Let us hope so, and
that he provides them with accurate information to make that choice.

Below is another study. At the very best, you could say that breastfeeding
carries a substantial risk of HIV transmission, although it could be reduced 
somewhat by taking certain precautions (besides exclusive breastfeeding, I'm 
not sure what they are).

Rachel Stern


AIDS. 2005 Mar 4;19(4):433-7. Links

Mode of infant feeding and HIV infection in children in a program for
prevention of mother-to-child transmission in Uganda.
a.. Magoni M,
b.. Bassani L,
c.. Okong P,
d.. Kituuka P,
e.. Germinario EP,
f.. Giuliano M,
g.. Vella S.
Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of different modalities of infant feeding
on HIV transmission in children in a prevention of mother-to-child
transmission (PMTCT) program in an urban hospital in Uganda. METHODS:
HIV-infected pregnant women in the PMTCT program at St Francis Hospital
Nsambya, Kampala were offered the chance to participate in the study.
Short-course antiretroviral regimens were provided and formula feeding
offered free of charge for women choosing not to breastfeed. Mother-infant
pairs were followed until 6 months postpartum. HIV status in children was
assessed at week 6 and month 6. For the analyses, mother-infant pairs were
classified into three groups according to the mode of infant feeding:
exclusive formula feeding (EFF), exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and mixed
feeding (MF). RESULTS: A total of 306 children were enrolled. Transmission
rates were 8.9% at week 6 (3.4% in the EFF group, 11.2% in the EBF group,
17.1% in the MF group) and 12.0% at month 6 (3.7% in the EFF group, 16.0% in
the EBF group, and 20.4% in the MF group). The EBF and MF groups were
associated with a significantly higher risk of HIV transmission than the EFF
group. No significant risk difference was observed between the EBF and the
MF groups. CONCLUSIONS: HIV transmission rates were significantly lower in
formula-fed infants in comparison with both exclusively breastfed and
mixed-fed infants. Transmission through breastfeeding seems to occur mainly
in the first weeks after delivery.


----- "ProNut-HIV" wrote:


> South Africa: HIV Positive Moms Can Breastfeed Too, Says Health
> Department
>
> BuaNews (Tshwane)
> August 3, 2006
> Sharon Hammond And Simphiwe Mkhabela
> Nelspruit
>
> Mothers with living with HIV can safely breastfeed their babies for the
> first six months of infancy, says Limpopo health and Social services
> spokesperson Phuti Seloba.
>
> He said breastfeeding remained best for the healthy growth and
> development of all babies.
>
> "We need to protect women from malicious advertising that says infant
> formula is the only option for HIV positive mothers.
>
> "The fact is that it's safe for women living with HIV to breastfeed for
> up to six months. Thereafter, they can switch to formula."
>
> He said mothers who did not have HIV were advised to breastfeed their
> babies until they were two years of age.
>
> Mr Seloba said departmental MEC Seaparo Sekoati would inform women of
> their choices at an event in Lepelle Nkumpi near Polokwane on Friday as
> part of World Breastfeeding Week.
>
> World Breastfeeding Week runs from August 1 to 7.
>
> According to a study done by University of KwaZulu-Natal paediatrics
> professor, Anna Coutsoudis, it is safe for HIV positive mothers to
> breastfeed their children for up to six months, as long as they don't
> combine this with infant formula.
>
> Mixed feeding introduces allergens and contaminants into the baby's gut,
> which could cause inflammation and thus make it easier for the HI virus
> to pass from mother to child, she explains.
>
> Ms Coutsoudis said the risk of HIV transmission was even less if babies
> were fed exclusively on breast milk until three months.
>
> Meanwhile, Mr Sekoati, raised awareness in Botlokwa about oral hygiene
> on Thursday as part of Oral Health Awareness Month.
>
> "Oral diseases appear to be increasing in many sectors of the South
> African population, especially in disadvantaged and urbanising
> communities," said Mr Seloba.
>