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Clinical Trial
. 2004 Jan 1;35(1):75-81.
doi: 10.1097/00126334-200401010-00011.

Infant feeding practices of women in a perinatal HIV-1 prevention study in Nairobi, Kenya

James N Kiarie  1 , Barbra A Richardson, Dorothy Mbori-Ngacha, Ruth W Nduati, Grace C John-Stewart
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Infant feeding practices of women in a perinatal HIV-1 prevention study in Nairobi, Kenya

James N Kiarie et al. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. .

Abstract

Objective: To determine feeding practices and nutritional status of infants born to HIV-1-infected women.

Methods: Feeding plans and practices were evaluated by questionnaires and focus group discussions. Infants were weighed at 1 and 6 weeks and tested for HIV-1 at 6 weeks.

Results: Of 128 women seen after delivery, 111 completed the study. Mothers who planned to breast feed were more likely to feed their infants as planned (86% vs. 55%; P < 0.001). Women opted to breast feed due to financial constraints, partner influence, and fear of losing confidentiality. Women who reported that their partners were willing to have HIV-1 testing were less likely to be breast feeding at 6 weeks (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1-0.8; P = 0.01). At 6 weeks, more infants were mixed fed (31% vs. 21%; P = 0.05) than at 1 week. Lower infant weight at 6 weeks was associated with not breast feeding (P = 0.001), HIV-1 infection (P = 0.05), birth weight <3000 g (P = 0.01), maternal employment (P = 0.02), and paying <$12.5 per month in house rent (among infants not breast fed; P = 0.05).

Conclusions: Replacement feeding was difficult, particularly without partner support in HIV-1 testing. Mixed feeding was common and increased by 6 weeks. Mothers of low socioeconomic status who opt not to breast feed require support to avoid nutritional compromise of infants.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Infant feeding plans and practices.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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