LLLI Center for Breastfeeding Information

Journal Abstract of the Month for October 2003

"Morbidity in children born to women infected with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa: does mode of feeding matter?"

Authors: A. Coutsoudis, K. Pillay, E. Spooner, H.M. Coovadia, L. Pembrey and M-L Newell

Acta Paediatr 2003;92:890-895

About 50% of HIV-infected children survive beyond 2 years of age in African populations. Not breastfeeding is not an option in many resource-poor settings, with a high HIV prevalence in childbearing women. During the first 2 months of life, never-breastfed infants, regardless of HIV status, were nearly twice as likely to have had an illness episode than breastfed infants. Morbidity among the HIV+ never-breastfed children was more serious than those who were breastfed. with 10 of 49 non-breastfed babies hospitalized, compared with 2 of 60 of the breastfed children. Among the HIV-uninfected children, those not breastfed were significantly more likely to become ill in the first 2 months than those who were breastfed. The additional illness which is experienced in the first few months of life by HIV+ infants not breastfed should be taken into account by HIV+ mothers, health workers and policy makers.

This paper is being categorized with the following keywords: Virus Transmission/HIV, Epidemiology,
Exclusive Breastfeeding, Africa, Public Health.