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Produced
by
IBFAN/ICDC
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The
International Code, HIV and breastfeeding
Page
2 of 4
Page
1, 3,
4
The
HIV/AIDS crisis must not be allowed to cast doubt
on the general suitability of breastfeeding to
meet the nutritional needs of infants and young
children. The vast majority of infants around
the world will benefit from breastfeeding and,
in many cases, their lives will depend upon it.
Breastmilk continues to offer protection against
such common yet potentially life-threatening diseases
as diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections
(Ref 1).
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The aim
of the International Code is to:
-
contribute
to safe and adequate nutrition for infants by
the protection and promotion of breastfeeding
-
ensure
the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when
these are necessary, on the basis of adequate
information and through appropriate marketing
and distribution (Art.
1 of the Code)
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In
the context of HIV, UNAIDS, WHO and UNICEF agree
that it is critical to:
-
protect, promote and support breastfeeding
-
improve access to voluntary testing and
counselling
-
ensure informed choice about infant feeding
for HIV-positive women
-
prevent commercial pressures for artificial
feeding
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Ref
1. WHO Collaborative Study Team on the Role
of Breastfeeding on the Prevention of Infant Mortality.
Effect of breastfeeding on infant and child mortality
due to infectious diseases in less developed countries:
a pooled analysis. Lancet 2000, 355: 451-455
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Between
one-quarter and one-third of babies born to women
who are tested HIV-positive will be infected with
the virus in utero, during childbirth or through breastfeeding.
Out of 100 women, it is estimated that about four
out of seven infants will be infected during pregnancy
or childbirth while three will contract the virus
through breastmilk. The chart shows the relatively
small number that contract the virus through breastfeeding.
97 out of each 100 infants would benefit from breastfeeding.
Mother-to-child
Transmission of HIV
Of
100 women in a community with 20% HIV prevalence among
mothers
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A.
80 mothers not infected by HIV
B.
20 mothers HIV - positive. 13 of these will
not pass the virus to their infants
C.
7 mothers transmit the virus to their infants,
4 out of 7 during pregnancy or delivery
D.
3 out of the 7 mothers will transmit the virus
through breastfeeding
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The competing
risks of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through
breastfeeding need therefore to be weighed against
the possibly greater risk of morbidity and mortality
from illnesses caused by not receiving breastmilk.
UNICEF estimates that in the last 20 years up to 1.7
million children have contracted HIV through breastfeeding;
a disturbing figure, no doubt. But one must keep some
sense of proportion. During this same period of time
30 million children have died because they were not
breastfed.
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The
International Code, HIV and Breastfeeding
Page 1
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The
International Code, HIV and Breastfeeding
Page 3
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