Mixed feeding may be the most dangerous option for babies of HIV positive mothers in Africa

Although mothers infected with HIV in industrialised countries are recommended not to breast feed their babies, to prevent them transmitting the infection, Latham and Preble argue that this is not the best strategy in poor households in developing countries (p 1656). This is because in children susceptible to infectious diseases formula feeding increases child morbidity, malnutrition, and mortality. They cite a recent South African study which showed that the risk of vertical transmission of HIV was much less with exclusive breast feeding than with mixed feeding and argue that while waiting for better research data public health practitioners in Africa should promote exclusive breast feeding.