Dear All, I wrote to Denise, Jack, Magda, Winnie, Kathy and Kathy a few days
ago to thank them for sending opinions, thoughts and information on my
previous weaning question, and although I received a message that my
response had been posted on Lactnet, I didn't see it.  Apologies to all if
it *was* and I missed it - my server has had problems with a virus and my
messages were a llittle chaotic for a while.

I confirmed that yes, as you had suspected, this is an HIV-transmission
study, looking at the effect of nevirapine on mother-to-child transmission.
I believe that the nevirapine will be discontinued at 24 weeks, which means
that the babies will no longer be protected against of the virus in the
breastmilk after that time.  I have not seen the protocol, but I would
speculate that, since this is the case, the mothers are invited to choose
about whether to continue breastfeeding or not.  I am told that the study is
being funded and overseen by a large US organization and much, much larger
numbers of babies from Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be
included in the next phase of the research if this one goes as expected.
This is the seventh and eighth study involving replacement feeding (all
organized by US-based or Australian organizations) that I have heard about
in this country in the last couple of years.

Confirmation has since been received that the babies will be weaned on to a
commercially manufactured formula, as a couple of you suggested.

If anyone else wants to comment on the above, or to send more thoughts on
what is the "best" replacement feed, I'm listening!  Thanks again.  Comments
so far have been very, very helpful.

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe
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