Item from "The Star" Johannesburg RSA.   "Durban - Researchers at the
University of Natal's Medical School in Durban have concluded that exclusive
b-f of babies by HIV positive mothers carries a 48% lower risk of
transmitting the disease than mixed feeding.   The study funded by the Aids
Directorate in the Department of Health has placed the academics
of the university at the forefront of world research on HIV and
breastfeeding.
      A report on the findings, which have aroused world interest was due to
be published in the prestigious British medical journal, "The Lancet",
today.   The research means that the present figure of 60,000 babies in SA
infected with Hiv every year could be cut to 30,000.
      The research is of extreme importance to an area such as KZN where 35%
of women attending antenatal clinics currently are HIV positive.
      Exclusive b-fing is not the norm in most cultures where HIV prevalence
is high.   However, the researchers are confident that behavior change is
possible.
      The head of paediatrics and child health at the medical school, Prof.
Jerry Coovadia, has described the latest research as one of the finest
studies to emanate from the medical school.
      The researchers are calling for a recommendation that HIV women who
chose to b-f or who have no other choice but breastfeeding, should be
encouraged and actively supported to b-f.

Barbie Currie.   White River, Mpumalanga South Africa.
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