Mother-to-child transmission of HIV among women who chose not to exclusively breastfeed their infants in Pune, India.

Background & Objective: The percentage of HIV cases attributed to mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) has increased several fold in recent years. No reports are available on HIV MTCT rates among HIV-infected choosing not be exclusively breastfeed their infants in India. We examined HIV MTCT rates among 41 Indian women in a prospective cohort who chose predominantly not to exclusively breastfeed.

Clinically significant anemia in HIV-infected pregnant women in India is not a major barrier to zidovudine use for prevention of maternal-to-child transmission.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of anemia (serum hemoglobin <10 g/dL) and assess zidovudine use and toxicity in HIV-positive pregnant women in India.

Methods: From 2002 through 2006, 24,105 pregnant women in Pune were screened for HIV and anemia. As part of an infant prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) trial, enrolled HIV-positive women (n = 467) were assessed for anemia and associated outcomes, comparing women receiving zidovudine for >or=2 weeks versus no zidovudine.

Replacement-fed infants born to HIV-infected mothers in India have a high early postpartum rate of hospitalization.

Access to safe breast-feeding alternatives for HIV-infected mothers and their infants in many settings is limited. We compared the rates of early postpartum hospitalization of infants born to HIV-infected mothers using different infant-feeding practices in a large government hospital in Pune, India. From March 1, 2000 to November 30, 2001, infants born to HIV-infected mothers were followed in a postpartum clinic.

Infant feeding practices of HIV-positive mothers in India.

Exclusive breast-feeding is widely accepted and advocated in India; however, clinicians are now faced with advising women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) about the risks and benefits of other infant feeding options. This study assessed factors that influence the infant feeding decisions of HIV-infected mothers in Pune, India. From December 2000 to April 2002, HIV-positive (HIV(+)) pregnant women (n = 101) from a government hospital antenatal clinic were interviewed prepartum about infant feeding intention, feeding practice immediately postpartum and feeding after a minimum of 2 wk postpartum.