Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Institute for Global Health, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Aug 6;24(1):2130. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19581-9.
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women with HIV breastfeed for a minimum of one year. In contrast, across high-income countries, HIV and infant-feeding guidelines recommend exclusive formula feeding if parents want to avoid all risk of postpartum transmission. However, recently these guidelines (including in the United Kingdom (UK)) increasingly state that individuals with HIV should be supported to breast/chest feed if they meet certain criteria; such as an undetectable maternal HIV viral load and consent to additional clinical monitoring. Between 600 and 800 pregnancies are reported annually in women with HIV in the UK, with low rates of vertical transmission (0.22%). Informed infant-feeding decision-making requires clinical support. Currently, little research addresses how individuals with HIV in high-income countries navigate infant-feeding decisions with their clinical teams and familial and social networks, and the resources needed to reach an informed decision. METHODS: Semi-structured remote interviews were conducted between April 2021 - January 2022 with UK-based individuals with a confirmed HIV diagnosis who were pregnant or one-year postpartum. Using purposive sampling, pregnant and postpartum participants were recruited through NHS HIV clinics, community-based organisations and snowballing. Data were analysed thematically and organised using NVivo 12. RESULTS: Of the 36 cisgender women interviewed, 28 were postpartum. The majority were of Black African descent (n = 22) and born outside the UK. The majority of postpartum women had chosen to formula feed. Women's decision-making regarding infant-feeding was determined by (1) information and support; (2) practicalities of implementing medical guidance; (3) social implications of infant-feeding decisions. CONCLUSION: The evolution of UK HIV and infant-feeding guidelines are not reflected in the experiences of women living with HIV. Clinicians' emphasis on reducing the risk of vertical transmission, without adequately considering personal, social and financial concerns, prevents women from making fully informed infant-feeding decisions. For some, seeking advice beyond their immediate clinical team was key to feeling empowered in their decision. The significant informational and support need among women with HIV around their infant-feeding options must be addressed. Furthermore, training for and communication by healthcare professionals supporting women with HIV is essential if women are to make fully informed decisions.
背景:世界卫生组织(WHO)建议艾滋病毒感染者的女性至少母乳喂养一年。相比之下,在高收入国家,艾滋病毒和婴儿喂养指南建议,如果父母希望避免产后传播的所有风险,应完全使用配方奶粉喂养。然而,最近这些指南(包括英国(UK))越来越多地规定,如果符合某些标准,艾滋病毒感染者应得到支持进行母乳喂养/胸部喂养;例如,母亲的艾滋病毒病毒载量无法检测到,并且同意进行额外的临床监测。英国每年报告约有 600 至 800 例艾滋病毒感染者怀孕,垂直传播率(0.22%)较低。知情的婴儿喂养决策需要临床支持。目前,很少有研究涉及高收入国家的艾滋病毒感染者如何与其临床团队以及家庭和社交网络一起做出婴儿喂养决策,以及需要哪些资源来做出知情决策。 方法:2021 年 4 月至 2022 年 1 月期间,对英国境内已确诊艾滋病毒感染且已怀孕或产后一年的个人进行了半结构式远程访谈。通过英国国家医疗服务体系(NHS)艾滋病毒诊所、社区组织和滚雪球的方式,有针对性地招募了孕妇和产后参与者。使用 NVivo 12 对数据进行了主题分析和组织。 结果:在接受采访的 36 名顺性别女性中,有 28 名是产后女性。她们大多是非洲裔黑人(n=22),并且在英国境外出生。大多数产后女性选择配方奶喂养。女性关于婴儿喂养的决策是由以下因素决定的:(1)信息和支持;(2)实施医学指导的实际情况;(3)婴儿喂养决策的社会影响。 结论:英国艾滋病毒和婴儿喂养指南的演变并没有反映在艾滋病毒感染者女性的经历中。临床医生强调降低垂直传播的风险,而没有充分考虑个人、社会和经济方面的担忧,这使得女性无法做出完全知情的婴儿喂养决策。对于一些人来说,向自己的临床团队以外的人寻求建议是做出决策的关键。艾滋病毒感染者在婴儿喂养选择方面需要得到大量的信息和支持。此外,为支持艾滋病毒感染者的医护人员提供培训和沟通是必要的,这样女性才能做出完全知情的决策。
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024-1-6
Matern Child Health J. 2024-8
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024-1-6
Clin Infect Dis. 2023-11-17