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Breast Feeding and HIV Infection

FAUZIA JAWAID KAZI, Assistant Professor, KGMU-Institute of Medical Sciences,
Lucknow India.

Abstract:Approximately one-third of Factors that may decrease the risk of

infants born to HIV-positive mothers HIV transmission through breastfeeding
contract HIV through mother-to-child include:
transmission, becoming infected during
Shorter duration of
their mothers' pregnancy, childbirth or
breastfeeding. The longer a child
breastfeeding without preventive
is breastfed by an HIV-positive
interventions. In 2001, 800,000 children
mother the higher the risk of HIV
under the age of 15 contracted HIV, over
infection. Breastfeeding for 6
90 per cent of them through mother-to-
months has about one third of the
child transmission of HIV (MTCT).
risk of breastfeeding for 2 years.
Between 15 and 25% of children born to
Exclusive breastfeeding in the
HIV-infected mothers get infected with
early months. Some
HIV during pregnancy or delivery, while
immunological studies are finding
about 15% of the children get infected
that there are factors in human
through breastfeeding.
milk, especially the milk of the the

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For Medical & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017
International e-Journal For Medical And Research-2017
HIV-infected mother, that will
directly combat the cells that
contribute to the transmission of
the HIV infection. A study done in
Durban, South Africa showed that
exclusive breastfeeding during the
first 3 months of life resulted in a
lower risk of MTCT than mixed
feeding (breastfeeding combined
with other foods, juices or water)
Prevention and treatment of
breast problems. Mastitis and
cracked nipples and other causes
of breast inflammation
associated with an increased risk
of HIV-transmission.
Prevention of HIV-infection
during breastfeeding. The
maternal viral load is higher
shortly after a new infection
resulting in an increased risk of
infection of the child.
Early treatment of sores or
thrush in the mouth of the
infant. Sores in the infant's mouth
make it easier for the virus to enter
the infant's body.
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The risk of HIV-infection has to be
compared with the risk of morbidity and
mortality due to not breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is protective against death
from diarrhoea, respiratory and other
infections, particularly in the first months
of life. Breastfeeding also provides the
necessary nutritional and related
ingredients, as well as the stimulation
necessary for good psychosocial and
neurological development, and contributes
to birth spacing.
Breastfeeding saves lives
are
For HIV-infected mothers,
especially in developing countries,
the decision to breastfeed or to
give breastmilk substitutes like
infant formula or modified cow's
milk provides a dilemma. While
breastfeeding increases the risk of
HIV-transmission to the child with
up to 15%, giving breastmilk
substitutes instead of breastmilk
increases the risk due to infectious
diseases like diarrhoea and
respiratory infections about 6
times during the first 2 months.
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IDL - International Digital Library
For Medical & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Medical And Research-2017

Many mothers in developing The risk of HIV-infection has to

countries cannot afford breastmilk be compared with the risk of
substitutes and lack access to clean morbidity and mortality due to not
water, which is essential for their breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is
safe preparation and use. Also in protective against death from
many cultures there is a stigma diarrhoea, respiratory and other
against not breastfeeding. A infections, particularly in the first
mother living with HIV/AIDS months of life. Breastfeeding also
therefore faces many grave provides the necessary nutritional
difficulties: worries about her own and related ingredients, as well as
health and survival, the risk of the stimulation necessary for good
infecting her baby through psychosocial and neurological
breastmilk, and the danger that her development, and contributes to
baby will develop other health birth spacin.
problems if she does not
breastfeed.

Relative risk of infectious disease mortality among non -breastfed infants.

Age (months)

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IDL - International Digital Library
For Medical & Research
Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Medical And Research-2017

References:

1. NACO, Guidelines for care of

HIVexposed infants and children
infants and children less than 18
months. New Delhi: National AIDS
Control Organization; 2010 Jan 24-36.
2. Sherman GG, Cooper PA, et al.
Polymerase chain reaction for
diagnosis for human
immunodeficiency virus infection in
infancy in low resource settings.
Pediatr Infect Dis J Med 2005:24:993-
7.
3. Violari A, Cotton MF, Gibb DM,
Babiker AG, Steyn J, Madhi SA, et al.
Early antiretroviral therapy and
mortality among HIV infected infants.
N Engl J Med 2008: 359:2233-44

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