Children
Child rights action with informed and engaged societies
Children
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Infant Feeding in the Context of HIV in South Africa: Questions and Answers

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This handbook, produced by the Yezingane Network and the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, is designed to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) about infant feeding in the context of HIV. Beginning with the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of exclusive breastfeeding (giving the baby no food or drink - not even water - other than breastmilk), the FAQs section provides basic information about breastfeeding and breastfeeding with HIV through answers to the following questions:

  • "What is the best way to feed a baby?
  • If the mother is HIV-positive, should she exclusively breastfeed?
  • How can HIV transmission through breast milk be avoided?
  • Should a breastfeeding mother who is HIV-positive or her baby be on anti-retroviral treatment?
  • What is the South African Government's guidelines on HIV and breastfeeding?
  • What are the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for the BABY?
  • (What are the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding) ...and for the MOTHER?
  • Not Exclusively Breastfeeding - what are the risks?
  • What are the missed benefits?
  • If a mother does not wish to breastfeed, what options are there for feeding the baby?
  • Does a baby whose mother is HIV-positive need additional care and treatment?
  • How are other mothers around the world feeding their babies?
  • How should newborn babies be fed if they are admitted to an intensive care unit or high care unit?
  • What can you do? and finally, a list of clinics and hospitals that offer antenatal, labour, and prenatal care:
  • Where in South Africa can mothers get help with exclusive breastfeeding?"


This booklet was produced after the November 2009 meeting in Durban, South Africa, called "Breastfeeding in the Context of HIV: What Do We Know? What Should We Do?" and follow-up meetings in October 2010 between Yezingane Network and key HIV/AIDS and infant feeding civil society organisations to present then-new evidence on the importance of breastfeeding in the context of HIV in an easy-to-understand way.

Number of Pages

11

Source

Journaids website, October 20 2011.

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