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  • Title: Realistic alternatives to breastfeeding in the HIV / AIDS era.
    Author: Foster G.
    Journal: AIDS STD Health Promot Exch; 1997; (4):9-10. PubMed ID: 12348387.
    Abstract:
    More than one-third of the 300,000-400,000 new HIV infections in children each year result from breast feeding. The risk of HIV transmission through breast feeding by HIV-infected mothers has been estimated at 1 in 7, but may be twice this high if the mother seroconverts during breast feeding. In most developing countries, HIV-infected mothers are not provided with sufficient information to enable them to make an informed choice on issues such as breast feeding. The US Agency for International Development encourages countries to make voluntary HIV testing available to pregnant women, to provide women who are HIV-positive with information on the risks of HIV transmission through breast feeding versus the risks to child survival of formula feeding when clean water is not available, and to support women in implementing whatever decision they make. Neonatal HIV transmission risk may be further reduced by measures such as heat treatment of colostrum to destroy HIV, limitation of breast feeding to the first few critical months of life, provision of vitamin A supplements to pregnant women with HIV, and use of diluted, sweetened, boiled cow's milk as a substitute for costly infant formula.
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