Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine (Mar 2012)

Maternal and infant health is protected by antiretroviral drug strategies that preserve breastfeeding by HIV-positive women

  • Louise Kuhn

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v13i1.152
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 6 – 13

Abstract

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The South African Department of Health is justified in withdrawing support for free infant formula. By so doing, it recognises that any intervention that might detract from breast feeding poses a serious threat to infant survival. Since evidence is now strong that antiretroviral drugs used during lactation prevent transmission of infection from a seropositive mother, strategies that promote breastfeeding can now be recommended for enhancing the health of mothers and infants.