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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:
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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:
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protect, promote and support breastfeeding
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improve access to voluntary testing and counselling
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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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