Here's an excerpt of an article in the American Journal of Nursing that I
received today entitled Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in the United
States by Nancy J. Cibulka, PhD, APRN,BC, RN.  Overall it seems very
accurate and informative but sadly lacking in any recent info on
transmission via breastfeeding.  This is the entire mention of the matter:

 

        "The rate of HIV transmission through breastfeeding has been
estimated at 14% among HIV-infected mothers and at 29% among those in the
acute stage of infection, according to a literature review.  Higher risk has
also been associated with longer duration of breastfeeding.  The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends against breastfeeding by
HIV-infected women, regardless of whether they're receiving antiretroviral
therapy."

 

That's the extent of info on breastfeeding.  There is no mention of the
higher risk of transmission with mixed feeding, the higher risk of death
from other illnesses in developing countries, the fact that pasteurization
kills the HIV virus, or that safer alternatives must be available to replace
breastfeeding.  They fail to mention that half the mothers of infants in the
USA are WIC-eligible and therefore close to the poverty level and properly
prepared formula may not be available to them every feeding every day for a
year.  The only research article cited specifically about breastfeeding was
from Kreiss in 1997.  None of Catsoulis' (sp?) research was cited or any
other research specifically looking at breastfeeding.

 

Anyone care to write a letter to the editor with recent facts and data and
share with the list?

 

Linda Anderegg, RNC, IBCLC, RLC in Chicago


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