Global Primary Care

Other HIV Efforts: Nutrition for HIV-infected mothers

Breastfeeding is the international gold standard for infant feeding, as it is known to reduce the risk of infant morbidity and mortality and foster improvements in child growth and development. However, in the context of HIV, breastfeeding significantly increases the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, and this risk is proportional to the duration of breastfeeding. As a result, the World Health Organization recommends avoidance of breastfeeding among HIV-infected mothers when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable, and safe.

Unfortunately, the adoption of formula feeding is not widespread in developing regions such as Lesotho, partly due to its high cost and partly due to the social stigma associated with not breastfeeding. Further, in settings where access to adequate hygienic conditions is limited, formula feeding may lead to increased infant morbidity and mortality. Consequently, breastfeeding continues to account for a substantial proportion of pediatric HIV infections in developing regions of the world. Unfortunately the main barrier to formula use is expense and so for many breastfeeding is the only solution. In partnership with the Lesotho Children’s Clinical Center of Excellence we aim to generate support for the purchase of formula for HIV infected mothers to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Fund-raising target for Global Primary Care’s Other HIV efforts in Lesotho - $15,000