Adherence to pre-selected infant feeding practices among mothers on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS programme in the Amathole region, Eastern Cape

• Main Author: Yako, Elizabeth Matseliso
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of Fort Hare 2011
• Subjects: Child care > South Africa > Eastern Cape; Child health services > South Africa > Eastern Cape; Mother and infant > South Africa > Eastern Cape; Parenteral feeding of children > South Africa > Eastern Cape; Motherhood > South Africa > Eastern Cape; HIV infections > Children > Transmission > Prevention; Maternal health services > South Africa > Eastern Cape; AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy > South Africa > Eastern Cape
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001091

Infant feeding in the context of HIV/AIDS poses a challenge among mothers. The implementation of UNICEF guidelines on infant feeding, which state that “when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, avoidance of all breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers is recommended” (WHO, 2003:12) are not easy to meet. In more developed countries, where these criteria are met, almost all HIV-infected mothers have ceased to breast feed. Consequently, infants of mothers in these countries are less likely to be infected with HIV postnatally. In South Africa, more specifically in the Eastern Cape, infant feeding is a challenge as a number of UNICEF criteria cannot be met. The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest Provinces in South Africa, with a number of rural communities. Earlier studies have shown that, if mothers select either exclusive breast feeding or exclusive formula feeding, this reduces mother-to-child transmission of HIV. A limited number of studies on adherence to the method of infant feeding selected before delivery were found in the literature, hence the need for the current study. The purpose of the study was to explore adherence to exclusive breast feeding and exclusive formula feeding among mothers with HIV infection and to determine the problems that mothers may be facing in implementing their pre-selected methods.