Ilene,
I did some research last year on HIV and brfdg so I might be missing a couple
references from the talk you attended but I have some disagreements with what
you got from the conf.
You said the 2nd highest transmission is from mom to baby and the number one
was through brfdg.  There is a 20-30% chance of transmission either through
preg or del (these are pre AZT data) and less than 15% postpartum which
includes brfdg. Some studies have the rate <5%.

The women in Africa if you look at the study were still living in high risk
conditions postpartum (unprotected sex, ect.). Which puts them at higher viral
loads and increase risk to the infant.

You did not mention the idea that a POSITIVE mom could express her milk and
pasturize it making it safe to give to her baby - far better than formula.  I
emphasized positive because there are groups out there that would love us to
discourage moms who might have some history that may make them at risk but are
not positive and never brfd instead go straight to formula.  This would be a
sad state of affairs.

Our role is to educate women to take safe measures to protect themselves and
the benefits of brfdg still out way the formula when you look at the whole
picture.

Ann Perry RN IBCLC