What was the gist of the comment? When I was in South Africa the last time, speaking at a Conference on Nursing, HIV/AIDS was a major topic on the program. It was pointed out that women in South Africa who are HIV positive will breastfeed, even if they have full blown AIDS, because to be seen bottle feeding is an admission that you have the infection (which you may not want your partner/family/community to know about).
Research was presented that proved that breastfeeding was best for the baby anyway, and that the risk of vertical transmission to the baby was very small, and much less than the risk to the baby's general health of bottle feeding.
It was the first time that I had heard of the stigma of bottle feeding, but it was very real....
Cheers
Andrea
At 09:38 AM 17/04/2004, you wrote:
Did anyone else catch Thursday's episode of ER? Interesting commentary on the use of formula in 3rd world countries, in HIV mums
Kirsten
----- Andrea Robertson Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.birthinternational.com
-- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
