This is for those of you interested in HIV and breast milk. It wasn't
widely publicized, so I thought I'd send it to you, courtesy of Trisha
Noack of La Leche League International. You may freely re-distribute it as
long as you keep it in its entirety.
Sue Ann Kendall
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Center for Breastfeeding Information (708)519-7730 ext. 241
Role of Mother's Milk in HIV Transmission Unclear
(Schaumburg, IL) August 15, 1995 - Researchers continue to produce a variety
of results while exploring the role of breastfeeding in the transmission of
HIV from mother to baby, according to the Center for Breastfeeding
Information (CBI) at La Leche League International (LLLI).
At this time the extent to which HIV can be passed through breast milk and
the role human milk plays in fighting HIV remain unclear. Some researchers
have isolated HIV in human milk and other case reports document the
transmission of HIV presumably via human milk by mothers. Yet other studies
do not show there to be a high risk of transmission. In addition, research
shows that breastfeeding slows the progression of the disease in babies who
are born HIV-positive.
Human milk may also be a factor in preventing the spread of the virus as
shown in a 1995 study in which a human milk factor that inhibits the binding
of HIV to specific receptor sites on human T-cells has been isolated in both
HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers. This phenomenon potentially inhibits
the virus from taking hold in the baby.
Reseachers continue to report on the importance of breast milk to the
over-all health of the child as well. There is ample documentation that human
milk significantly lowers the rate of infectious childhood illness in
non-HIV-infected children exclusively breastfed by either HIV-positive or
negative mothers. Experts agree that protecting the HIV-positive child from
other infections is also extremely important in the management of the
disease.
La Leche League International acknowledges the worldwide challenge of making
informed infant feeding decisions when HIV is a consideration. Parents and
health care providers are urged to weigh the known, documented health and
emotional benefits of human milk and breastfeeding for both mother and child
against (1) the known, documented health hazards of artificial infant feeding
(2) the rates of childhood illness and death from infectious diseases in the
mother's area of the world, and (3) the as yet underclarified risk of HIV
transmission through human milk.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently
maintains its 1985 stand that women infected with HIV should not breastfeed,
the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation reflects the La Leche
League International position. WHO issued a revised statement in May 1992
recommending that breastfeeding be promoted and supported in all populations,
irrespective of HIV infection rates. The WHO statement contains a
qualification which cautions weighing the risks of HIV transmission against
the risk of formula feeding depending on rates of illness and death from
infectious diseases.
The Center for Breastfeeding Information at La Leche League International is
committed to collecting and disseminating the most current, published
information about HIV and human milk in order to facilitate the
decision-making process. Interested parties may contact the CBI at (708)
519-7730 for further information.
La Leche League International, founded in 1956, reaches over 100,000 women in
60 countries every month with information and mother-to-mother support. LLLI
is recognized as the world's foremost authority on breastfeeding. Parents
seeking breastfeeding support and information my call their local La Leche
League Group or 1-800-LA-LECHE or write to 1400 N. Meacham, Schaumburg, IL
60168-4079.
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Sue Ann Kendall, mother of two small boys, editor, La Leche League Leader
LLL District Advisor, Illinois District C1 Champaign, IL USA
East Central Illinois Breastfeeding Promotion Task Force Chair, 1995-6
Owner, La Leche League On Line ([log in to unmask])
Prairienet Documentation Committee Head http://www.prairienet.org/~sak
[log in to unmask] http://www.prairienet.org/laleche/homepage.html
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