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The prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme and infant feeding practices | Journal Article / Research | MSF Science Portal
Journal Article
|Research

The prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme and infant feeding practices

Hilderbrand K, Goemaere E, Coetzee D
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Abstract
Since the first cases of HIV transmission through breast-feeding were documented, a fierce debate has raged on appropriate guidelines for infant feeding in resource-poor settings. A major problem is determining when it is safe and feasible to formula-feed, as breast-milk protects against other diseases. A cross-sectional survey of 113 women attending the programme for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, was conducted. Over 95% of women on the programme formula-fed their infants and did not breast-feed at all. Seventy per cent of women said that their infant had never had diarrhoea, and only 3% of children had had two episodes of diarrhoea. Focus groups identified the main reasons for not breast-feeding given by women to their families and those around them. Formula feeding is safe and feasible in an urban environment where sufficient potable water is available.

Languages

English
Published Date
01 Oct 2003
PubMed ID
14652971
Journal
South African Medical Journal