Transmission of HIV from mother to child is very common during pregnancy whether it is at the time of delivery or through breastfeeding. Breastfeeding accounts for nearly 40% of mother to child transmission cases, and because of this, nearly 200,000 babies obtain HIV annually through breastfeeding.
The World Health Organization states that “when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, avoidance of all breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers is recommended (2).” At the same time, the use replacement feeding, such as a formula, in a low resource setting has been shown to increase infant mortality due to malnutrition and diarrhea, even given the risk of HIV infection. Consequently, several mothers are only left with one alternative – to breastfeed and risk transmission of the virus.
Therefore, this nipple shield has been tested to combat mother to child HIV transmission. It is a shield worn by mothers on their nipple when complications arise from their breastfeeding. At the same time, the shield is designed to prevent infections by delivering compounds during feeding. Likewise, this shield is hoped to also be able to deliver antiretroviral drugs from mother to infant against infection, or to release an edible microbicide into breastmilk that reduces HIV infectivity in the milk.
The World Health Organization states that “when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, avoidance of all breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers is recommended (2).” At the same time, the use replacement feeding, such as a formula, in a low resource setting has been shown to increase infant mortality due to malnutrition and diarrhea, even given the risk of HIV infection. Consequently, several mothers are only left with one alternative – to breastfeed and risk transmission of the virus.
Therefore, this nipple shield has been tested to combat mother to child HIV transmission. It is a shield worn by mothers on their nipple when complications arise from their breastfeeding. At the same time, the shield is designed to prevent infections by delivering compounds during feeding. Likewise, this shield is hoped to also be able to deliver antiretroviral drugs from mother to infant against infection, or to release an edible microbicide into breastmilk that reduces HIV infectivity in the milk.
References:
1: Chasela C.S., Hudgens M.G., Jamieson D.J., et al. (2010) Maternal or infant antiretroviral drugs to reduce HIV-1 transmission. New England Journal of Medicine 362:2271-81.
2: WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF. (2010) Guidelines on HIV and infant feeding.
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599535_eng.pdf
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599535_eng.pdf
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