Open AccessMaternal and infant health is protected by antiretroviral drug strategies that preserve breastfeeding by HIV-positive women
Author(s) -
Louise Kuhn
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
southern african journal of hiv medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.859
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2078-6751
pISSN - 1608-9693
DOI - 10.4102/sajhivmed.v13i1.152
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , breast feeding , transmission (telecommunications) , intervention (counseling) , breast milk , antiretroviral therapy , drug , infant formula , pediatrics , environmental health , family medicine , nursing , psychiatry , viral load , biochemistry , chemistry , electrical engineering , engineering
The South African Department of Health is justified in withdrawing support for free infant formula. By so doing, it recognises that any intervention that might detract from breast feeding poses a serious threat to infant survival. Since evidence is now strong that antiretroviral drugs used during lactation prevent transmission of infection from a seropositive mother, strategies that promote breastfeeding can now be recommended for enhancing the health of mothers and infants