>Anyone truly concerned about expense would be putting huge energy into
bigger and longer versions of the Coutsoudis study showing exclusive bfing
to be protective against HIV.  Now *there's* an inexpensive solution to the
problem!<

Hear hear Diane, but here's a revolutionary thought -- how about doing the
study and using an even more biologically logical definition of 'exclusive
breastfeeding' than the WHO one!!!???  If you all turn back to your Feb
copies of LLLI Breastfeeding Abstracts Miriam Labbok's article will refresh
your minds on this matter.  The WHO definition includes wet nursing (I don't
know if this affected the cohort Anna Coutsoudis studied, but it is clearly
nonsense in the context of HIV not to eliminate wet nursing in a study-  esp
in a culture where wet nursing is normal).  It also includes medications,
vitamins, etc.  I see where this is coming from, but wouldn't it make sense
to do studies on babies exclusively maternally breastfed to see what
transmission rates are in this case -- as one of the theories about the
transfer of HIV through breast milk is that disruption of the baby's mucosal
surfaces increases liklihood of transmission.  What theoretical
justification do you think there is for supposing that vitamin drops and
medications do not affect the mucosal surfaces in any way?????

Magda Sachs
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK

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