LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Roni Chas <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 2 Mar 1998 16:45:26 EST
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (28 lines)
In a message dated 98-03-02 10:22:30 EST, you write:
<<<<In the US the two most common modes of aquiring HIV are blood
 transfusion and right there in the number 2 position is mother to baby!
 Within the mother to baby catagory, aquired through breastmilk is in the
 number one position of mode of transmission!!!! >>

I do not think this information is correct. I believe the most common mode of
transmission is by heterosexual contact. The greatest increase was in women
and the infection in women was highest in New York, New Jersey, District of
Columbia and in Florida. The increases were among adolescents, young adults
and individuals over age 50. The rate of transmission from mother to baby has
decreased tremendously since they started testing pregnant women. If positive
they give the mom AZT prenatally, during labor and delivery and then give the
baby AZT for 6 weeks after birth. The problem with the babys after birth, is
that they will test positive for up to 1 year based on the mothers antibodies,
80%+ will convert to be negative. The additional risk of transmission due to
bf is 15%. There are tests to show if the baby will NOT convert and remain
positive but these tests are very expensive, and are not done routinely.  It
is thought that a higher risk of transmission occurs during the very early and
the late stages of infection, possibly because the there is a higher quantity
of HIV in the body.  One small study suggested that bf for a shorter periods
of time, less than 6 months, may delay the progress of the disease, whereas bf
for longer periods of time, six to twelve months, increases the risk of
transmission.
I wrote a paper that was published in the Journal of Perinatal Education on
this topic. If anyone wants the references, you can email me directly.
Roni M Chastain, RN., FACCE

ATOM RSS1 RSS2