Hi Everyone,
Just got my latest posting from AWHONN with the following information. I
thought I would share this with Lactnet.

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*************************AWHONN eNews****************************
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August 1998
Issue 2 Volume 8

***Health in the News***

**HIV transmission through breast milk **
A recent study concludes that about 5% of infants born to HIV-positive
women in developing countries become infected with the virus through
their mother's breast milk.  Researchers at the Universite Victor
Segalen Bordeaux in France compiled data from four studies conducted in
developing countries and four conducted in developed countries of
infants born to HIV-infected women.  They found that less than 5% of
women born to HIV-infected women in developed nations were breastfed and
that no children born to these women were infected postnatally, while in
the developing nations most infants were breastfed and 5% of 902
children in four study groups were infected in the postnatal period.
Authors note that further analysis showed that if breastfeeding had been
stopped at four months of age in women in developing nations, no HIV
transmissions would have occurred, and only three transmission would
have occurred if breastfeeding had stopped by six months.  Authors say
the findings suggest that breastfeeding by HIV-infected women should be
avoided if safe and affordable alternatives are available.  The study is
in The Lancet (1998;352:597-600).

Comments are always appreciated.
Roni M. Chastain, RN, LCCE, FACCE
Glen Cove, New York