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MEXICO; higher infant death risk with formula versus breast feeding
Although strict formula feeding lowers HIV transmission risk from mothers to infants, it is often impractical in sub-Saharan Africa because it costs too much and it suggests a woman has HIV.
Research presented at AIDS 2008 which studied formula versus breast feeding in HIV positive women from Uganda's Rakai district recorded a significantly higher HIV rate in breastfed infants than in formula-fed infants at 6 weeks of age (13% versus 4%).
But one year after birth, overall death risk was 50% lower in the 226 breastfed infants than in the 84 formula fed infants.
These findings should not encourage women with HIV to breast feed their babies. If you are uncertain, discuss the findings with your doctor.
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