Breast-feeding and HIV--a balance of risks

HIV-1 infection may be transmitted by breast-feeding. The risk of vertical transmission varies with the stage of maternal infection, but is 29 per cent if a mother acquires infection during lactation. The risk of infant death by not breast-feeding in a poor and contaminated environment is greater than the risk of HIV-infection when an HIV-positive mother breast-feeds. Vertical transmission can be reduced if women avoid high risk activities during pregnancy and especially lactation.