Relation between HIV and Infant Feeding - A Review Article

Breast feeding increases the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child. Transmission through breast feeding is associated with increased maternal viral load in plasma and breast milk. Modern medical science suggests HIV infected women should give breast milk with accompanying prophylactic antiretroviral therapy to lower the risk of HIV transmission. According to Ayurveda, mother with vitiated breast milk should avoid breast feeding as it is responsible for developing many diseases in the child.

Challenges in preventing vertical HIV transmission in Petrolina, Pernambuco and Juazeiro, Bahia

Objectives: to measure vertical HIV transmission rate (TTV) and describe the adoption of prophylactic measurements (MP) in infected pregnant women and exposed children in the cities of Petrolina, PE and Juazeiro, BA. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out on 76 mothers and children from January 2006 to December 2010. Data were collected from reported forms and medical records from the referral services. The Ministry of Health recommendations was followed to characterize an infected child. It was appropriately considered to adopt the five MP distributed in three stages of care: pregnancy (antiretroviral therapy), intrapartum (intravenous azidotimidina and by delivery preference as a function of the maternal viral load) and post natal (azidotimidina taken orally by children and no breastfeeding). Results: 58 children investigated, five were HIV infected, revealing 8.6% of TTV. The MP was inadequate in 68.4% of the cases. Conclusions: high TTV of HIV and inadequate MP in most of the cases, the non-white patients and those who came from other cities received a lower proportion of adequate MP. Diagnostic failures and the three stages of care reflected on the TTV. Improve quick tests at pregnancy, integrate actions in cities, offer reproductive planning, maximize coverage of prenatal care and engage obstetric teams and Family Health are strategies to reduce TTV.