Influence of infant-feeding patterns on early mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in Durban, South Africa: a prospective cohort study. South African Vitamin A Study Group.

BACKGROUND

The observation that mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 can occur through breastfeeding has resulted in policies that recommend avoidance of breastfeeding by HIV-1-infected women in the developed world and under specific circumstances in developing countries. We compared transmission rates in exclusively breastfed, mixed-fed, and formula-fed (never breastfed) infants to assess whether the pattern of breastfeeding is a critical determinant of early mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1.

METHODS

We prospectively assessed infant-feeding practices of 549 HIV-1-infected women who were part of a vitamin A intervention trial in Durban, South Africa. The proportions of HIV-1-infected infants at 3 months (estimated by use of Kaplan-Meier life tables) were compared in the three different feeding groups. HIV-1 infection was defined by a positive RNA-PCR test.

FINDINGS

At 3 months, 18.8% (95% CI 12.6-24.9) of 156 never-breastfed children were estimated to be HIV-1 infected compared with 21.3% (17.2-25.5) of 393 breastfed children (p=0.5). The estimated proportion (Kaplan-Meier) of infants HIV-1 infected by 3 months was significantly lower for those exclusively breastfed to 3 months than in those who received mixed feeding before 3 months (14.6% [7.7-21.4] vs 24.1% [19.0-29.2], p=0.03). After adjustment for potential confounders (maternal CD4-cell/CD8-cell ratio, syphilis screening test results, and preterm delivery), exclusive breastfeeding carried a significantly lower risk of HIV-1 transmission than mixed feeding (hazard ratio 0.52 [0.28-0.98]) and a similar risk to no breastfeeding (0.85 [0.51-1.42]).

INTERPRETATIONS

Our findings have important implications for prevention of HIV-1 infection and infant-feeding policies in developing countries and further research is essential. In the meantime, breastfeeding policies for HIV-1-infected women require urgent review. If our findings are confirmed, exclusive breastfeeding may offer HIV-1-infected women in developing countries an affordable, culturally acceptable, and effective means of reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 while maintaining the overwhelming benefits of breastfeeding.