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WHO releases Consensus Statement
on infant feeding and HIV
The World Health Organization’s Inter-agency
Task Team on the Prevention of HIV in Pregnant Women, Mothers, and
their Infants convened a meeting in Geneva this October to examine new
evidence and update recommendations on how proper infant feeding
practices can prevent Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV.
Among the findings they examined were:
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Exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months was
associated with a three- to four-fold decreased risk of transmission
of HIV compared to non-exclusive breastfeeding
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Artificial feeding showed no advantage over
breastfeeding for three to six months in stopping HIV infection and
death
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Early cessation of breastfeeding (before six
months) was associated with an increased risk of infant morbidity
(especially diarrhoea) and mortality in children whose mothers were
HIV positive
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Breastfeeding of HIV-infected infants beyond six
months was associated with improved survival rates compared to
stopping breastfeeding
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The outbreak of diaorrhea which claimed the
lives of 470 Botswanan infants in 2006 was noted as an example of
the dangers of combating HIV with artificial feeding. Botswanan
health officials had been distributing formula to stop MTCT through
breastfeeding and the infants became infected after floods led to
contaminated water in the region. (see INFACT Canada Spring 2006
newsletter)
Considering this evidence, WHO continues to recommend that the most
appropriate infant feeding option for HIV-infected mothers depends on
individual circumstances. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for
the first six months of life unless artificial feeding is acceptable,
feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe for the duration of that
time. If artificial feeding is acceptable and safe, breastfeeding by
HIV-infected mothers is not recommended. Governments are advised to
re-vitalize breastfeeding protection, promotion and support in the
general population, as the Task Team found consistent messages and
frequent high-quality counselling to be effective in aiding mothers to
determine their best possible method of infant feeding. |
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