Early infant breastfeeding practices, and predictors of breastfeeding cessation, in HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected mothers on antiretroviral treatment: a prospective cohort study
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Optimal breastfeeding promotes child health and survival globally. Pro-breastfeeding HIV infant feeding policy changes in 2010, and the roll-out of universal maternal anti-retroviral therapy (ART) since 2013, have created an opportunity for re-establishment of breastfeeding among HIV exposed infants in resource-limited settings. Yet data are limited on breastfeeding practices under these policies. This study aimed to evaluate breastfeeding practices and predictors of breastfeeding cessation among women living with HIV (WLHIV) receiving universal ART, and a comparator group of HIV-negative (HIV-) women in Cape Town, South Africa. Methodology: This secondary data analysis used deidentified data from two parallel, prospective cohort studies conducted at the Gugulethu Midwife and Obstetric Unit between 2013 and 2017; the unit is certified as Baby-Friendly. Utilizing the same research staff, measurement tools and procedures, the studies followed pregnant women (HIV-; and WLHIV initiating universal ART) through delivery. HIVexposed infants received nevirapine and co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. At the early neonatal visit (± 7 days), breastfeeding mother-infant pairs were eligible to continue follow-up (visits at 6 weeks; 3, 6, 9, 12 months). At each study visit, trained field workers administered 24-hour recall questionnaires to assess infant feeding and asked about changes in feeding practices since the preceding visit. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was defined as feeding infants no other food or drink other than breastmilk, except for medicines, vitamins and minerals. Breast feeding (BF) was censored at last visit with reported BF. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to assess factors associated with cessation of exclusive and all breastfeeding among HIV-negative children of both groups of women (HIV-exposed uninfected, HEU and HIV-unexposed, HU children), expressed as crude (HR) or adjusted hazard ratios (aHR). Results: Overall, 872 breastfeeding mothe…
abstract: Background: Optimal breastfeeding promotes child health and survival globally. Pro-breastfeeding HIV infant feeding policy changes in 2010, and the roll-out of universal maternal anti-retroviral therapy (ART) since 2013, have created an opportunity for re-establishment of breastfeeding among HIV exposed infants in resource-limited settings. Yet data are limited on breastfeeding practices under these policies. This study aimed to evaluate breastfeeding practices and predictors of breastfeeding cessation among women living with HIV (WLHIV) receiving universal ART, and a comparator group of HIV-negative (HIV-) women in Cape Town, South Africa. Methodology: This secondary data analysis used deidentified data from two parallel, prospective cohort studies conducted at the Gugulethu Midwife and Obstetric Unit between 2013 and 2017; the unit is certified as Baby-Friendly. Utilizing the same research staff, measurement tools and procedures, the studies followed pregnant women (HIV-; and WLHIV initiating universal ART) through delivery. HIVexposed infants received nevirapine and co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. At the early neonatal visit (± 7 days), breastfeeding mother-infant pairs were eligible to continue follow-up (visits at 6 weeks; 3, 6, 9, 12 months). At each study visit, trained field workers administered 24-hour recall questionnaires to assess infant feeding and asked about changes in feeding practices since the preceding visit. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was defined as feeding infants no other food or drink other than breastmilk, except for medicines, vitamins and minerals. Breast feeding (BF) was censored at last visit with reported BF. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to assess factors associated with cessation of exclusive and all breastfeeding among HIV-negative children of both groups of women (HIV-exposed uninfected, HEU and HIV-unexposed, HU children), expressed as crude (HR) or adjusted hazard ratios (aHR). Results: Overall, 872 breastfeeding mothe…
author: Theunissen, Helene Cornelia
keywords: Public Health
date published: 2020
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:46Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Public Health and Family Medicine

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33051