One might believe from the various studies that abrupt weaning would actually
increase the risk of transmission of hiv.  I would think that abrupt weaning
would open the junctions between the alveolar cells and increase the
liklihood of transport of hiv or any other virus into the milk.  Therefore
there maybe a risk of the very thing you are trying to avoid.

Abrupt weaning would also risk the mother to mastitis or even a breast
abcess.  Not to mention the difficulties this kind of weaning causes
emotionally for both the infant and mother.  Infants normally do not take too
kindly to being kept away from the source of comfort they have had for the
first 6 months of life.

Why can't these mothers continue to exclusively breastfeed their infants for
another 6 months?  Give what foods you would give to the infant to the
mother.  There are studies that suggest that many infants do fine exclusively
breastfeeding for 9 months--even up to a year.  Of course these were
well-nourished mothers.  So the emphasis would be in nourishing these mothers
well.   I think it's a better answer than abrupt weaning.  Valerie W.
McClain, IBCLC

Besides, if human lactoferrin (as reported in all these US patents) prevents
and treats hiv/aids, then denying these infants their opportunity to get more
of this important antibiotic would be verging on the criminal...

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