Breast-feeding and the Dilemma Posed by AIDS - Evaluating Revised WHO Guidelines in a Resource-Poor High-HIV Prevalence Setting

Research area(s):

Project start:
01.01.1999

Project end:
31.12.2003

Co-ordinators:

Institutions:
Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo

Funding source(s):
The Research Council of Norway,

Project description:
WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF have recommended that HIV-infected mothers in resource-poor settings should breastfeed, as the alternative may imply other serious risks to the child. These Guidelines were revised in June 1998, and HIV-infected mothers in all settings were advised to use breast milk substitutes, while HIV-negative mothers (or of unknown status) should continue breastfeeding. A systematic documentation of the feasibility and acceptance of the revised Guidelines on breastfeeding and HIV from a field setting is lacking and is critical in order to guide the initiative. This study will investigate the causes and determinants of mothers' breast-feeding behaviours in the presence of HIV, as well evaluating the appropriateness and feasibility of the Guidelines as perceived by pregnant mothers and local HIV/AIDS-counsellors. The research was organised in two main components: A cross-sectional survey (structured questionnaire) of pregnant women (n=500), assessing their awareness and perception of the risk of mother-to child-transmission (MTCT), intentions to adopt and infant feeding option if found HIV-infected and perceived barriers to the newly revised guidelines (field work 99). (2) A qualitative survey (in-depth interviews) of HIV/AIDS counsellors assessing their awareness, perception and evaluation of the revised Guidelines on breast-feeding and MTCT (field work 2000). The study was undertaken in a urban and rural setting in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania

Countries:
Tanzania