How women living with HIV in the UK manage infant-feeding decisions and vertical transmission risk - a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women with HIV breastfeed for a minimum of one year. In contrast, across high-income countries, HIV and infant-feeding guidelines recommend exclusive formula feeding if parents want to avoid all risk of postpartum transmission. However, recently these guidelines (including in the United Kingdom (UK)) increasingly state that individuals with HIV should be supported to breast/chest feed if they meet certain criteria; such as an undetectable maternal HIV viral load and consent to additional clinical monitoring. Between 600 and 800 pregnancies are reported annually in women with HIV in the UK, with low rates of vertical transmission (0.22%). Informed infant-feeding decision-making requires clinical support. Currently, littl

SUBMITTER: Kasadha B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11302277 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature