WHO said infected mothers who are on ART and adherent to therapy “should breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, and then add complementary feeding until 12 moth of age.
Breastfeeding with complementary feeding may continue until 24 months of age or beyond.
In its previous guidelines, WHO advice was to breastfeed for 12 months but then stop breastfeeding if a nutritionally adequate and safe diet could be provided.
“The new guideline is based on scientific evidence that shows ART is very effective at preventing HIV transmission through breastfeeding as long as the mother is adherent to therapy,” it noted.
WHO added the new evidence means “that mothers living with HIV and their children can benefit from the many advantages of breastfeeding – such as improved growth and development – in the same way as mothers who do not have HIV and their children.”
WHO recommendations emphasize the need for health system to “qualify HIV services that reliably provide ART and continue to care mother living with HIV.”
According to WHO, mixed feeding is better than no breastfeeding at all if the mother is on HIV treatment.
“Mother living with HIV can be reduces the risk of post-natal HIV transmission even when the baby is on mixed feeding. Although exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months, mixed feeding is better than no breastfeeding,” WHO said.
WHO added that such infected mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively because it benefits the infant in many ways including, “reduced illness, and improved growth and development.”
source: Philippine Star
Health & Medicine
