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  • Title: HIV and breastfeeding.
    Author: Balsekar MV.
    Journal: Indian Pediatr; 1996 Dec; 33(12):1027-8. PubMed ID: 9141803.
    Abstract:
    A meta-analysis of studies on the association between breast feeding and HIV estimated a 14% incremental risk of HIV-1 transmission in breast-fed infants born to HIV-infected mothers. In developed countries, where safe alternative sources of milk are available, HIV-infected mothers are encouraged not to breast feed. In developing countries, however, where infectious diseases and malnutrition are important causes of infant mortality, HIV-positive mothers are urged to breast feed. The author of this letter to the editor, a pediatrician from India, challenges this World Health Organization recommendation and urges the Indian Academy of Pediatrics to review the issue. India's infant mortality rate is currently 80/1000 live births. 1.6% of these infant deaths are attributable to gastrointestinal infections. Although this risk, and that from malnutrition, would certainly increase if HIV-positive mothers were to abandon breast feeding, the risk of death attributable to artificial feeding would be substantially lower than the 14% risk of HIV associated with breast feeding.
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