Breastfeeding and HIV Transmission (7)
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Referring to SAFAIDS' Fact Sheet No.1.98:
This is a well written summary of the problem of breastmilk transmis-
sion of HIV and the attendant problems of addressing the problem.
There are still a number of important gaps in the knowledge we have on
breastmilk transmission:
1. When during breastfeeding do babies acquire HIV? Are there periods
of increased risk?
2. What is the morbidity of breastfed and formula fed infants of HIV
infected women. What is the HIV free survival of these children?
3. Is it possible to modify breastmilk transmission of HIV with ART
administered to the mother or to the infant? How long can this
strategy be employed?
4. Is it possible to develop simple household technologies that would
render breastmilk safe?
5. In developed countries, MTCT of HIV is nearly 100% preventable with
minimal monetary cost to the woman or her family. Why do we expect
poor women in developing countries to carry the whole cost of saving
the next generation?
We need serious discussions and science to address the above problems.
Ruth Nduati
Kenya
mailto:rnduati@iconnect.co.ke
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