Articles
Infants without HIV suffer no growth check, despite maternal infection
28 Jan 2010 | Kate Iorpenda | Articles - Page 3
This NAM article considers results from a study looking at the progress of children born to HIV + mothers but who are uninfected compared to the children of HIV- mothers in KZN South Africa between 2001- 2004. The study results support new WHO guidelines on exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life as the children of HIV infected mothers who were exclusively breastfed grew as well as the children born to uninfected mothers.
Factors affecting infant growth included:
- Mother’s HIV status (lower birth weight in children of HIV-infected mothers)
- Maternal weight (children of larger women were consistently heavier for age from birth than children of smaller women.
- Infants born to HIV-infected mothers with advanced disease (CD4 cell count <200 cells/ml) always weighed less.
The findings also support early identification and immediate start of antiretroviral treatment of HIV-infected pregnant women with low CD4 cell counts to improve survival and long-term health for mothers and their children.
Comments
TCB India says:
16 February 2010
But isn't this true only for settings where PCR testing facilities are available and affordable. Like in many parts of India, the child is already 18 months before they can get tested for HIV. In such cases exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months....I am not too sure!
Pankaj Anand says:
16 February 2010
The study findings are a reconfirmation of what WHO has always been suggesting on exclusive breastfeeding to newborns by WLHIV. More importantly, the report also supports immediate start of antiretroviral treatment of HIV-infected pregnant women with low CD4 cell counts to improve survival and long-term health for mothers and their children.
For those in civil society around the world working on issues of Children and HIV, the findings of this informed report are worth taking a closer look.
Pankaj Anand says:
17 February 2010
My contention on exclusive breastfeeding is not in relation to India or South Asia. But yes, the experience you have brought about India (also true for most of South Asia) is fairly well documented.
I think that this debate is crucial in respect of countries where PCR is still a distant reality. I find that some recent publications on library also strongly endorse your point of view.