Women who were HIV infected were at significant increase risk of adverse pregnancy outcome (including stillbirths, miscarriages and antenatal maternal deaths) compared with HIV-uninfected women. Low birth weight infants of both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women were at substantially increased risk of dying.
There has been debate about breastfasting by HIV-uninfected women.Breastfasting is known to be a valuable strategy for child survival, reducing diarrhea,respiratory illnesses and malnutrition but there is a risk that HIV may be transmitted from mother to infant.
This study found that exclusive breastfeeding carries a significantly lower risk of HIV transmission than mixed feeding (giving breast milk plus other fluids or solids). Infant who recieved formula milk in addition to breast milk were nearly twice as likely to acquire HIV as infants who received breast milk only and the addition of solids increased the 11 folds.
These findings have led to the revised WHO's consensus statement on HIV and infant feeding in October 2006, which recommends that HIV-infected mother who chooses to exclusively breastfeed should do so for six months, while replacement feeding (e.g. formula milk) is recommended only for HIV-infected women for whom it is acceptable, feasible, sustainable and safe.
