Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Uganda) - September 17, 2001
Charles Wendo
Dr. Michele Magoni from Nsambya Hospital, Kampala, said that by one week 10% of the mothers who had opted for formula feeding were already breastfeeding their babies.
Magoni said that active monitoring is necessary as part of the programme for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
Dr. Pius Okong from Nsambya Hospital said the findings imply that the mothers need to be supported to adhere to the infant feeding alternatives that they have chosen. He said mixed feeding could increase the risk of transmitting the virus to the baby.
"Since the mothers do not adhere to the method of feeding we expect some babies to get infected along the way," he said.
Nsambya is one of the hospitals implementing the Government programme for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission.
Under the programme, mothers who test HIV positive are advised to choose either exclusive breast feeding for a maximum of six months or breast milk substitutes including infant formula.
Out of 7,663 mothers who attended the antenatal clinic, 4,831 accepted HIV testing, 12% were positive and 305 accepted to take treatment for the prevention of mother to child transmission.
The conference took place in Kampala.
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