Breast feeding reduces morbidity

The risk of HIV transmission requires risk assessment -- not a shift to formula feeds

Well-known nutrition researcher, Dr. Michael Latham observes that the years of important work to put protective policies in place to stem the spread of commercial breastmilk substitutes, is now threatened because of concern about HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

The high prevalence of HIV in the sub-Saharan countries of Africa has put pressure on these governments and health ministries to provide free or subsidized supplies of infant formulas for mothers infected with HIV. Most babies with HIV are infected either in-utero or during childbirth and very few by breastfeeding. When breastfeeding is exclusive the transmission rate is very low during the first three months.

The reality for most African mothers is poverty, little or no access to safe water, hygienic facilities for preparation, money for fuel, secure access to enough formula supplies or adequate health care. Emphasis is needed on less hazardous feeding alternatives -- exclusive breastfeeding, a shorter total duration of breastfeeding, heat treatment of mother's own expressed milk, banked human milk, donated milk, safe wet nursing, or modified animal milks.

"Will the commercial manufacturers of breast milk substitutes take advantage of the AIDS pandemic to peddle their products under the guise of humanitarian concern?" he asks. Although the UN agencies recognize the need for the International Code of marketing to ensure that these companies provide no free donations of substitutes through the health care system, experience tells us that many of these corporations have never respected the code.