First Name:
Brittany
Last Name:
Sleeper
Major Department:
Nutrition
Thesis Director:
Sarah Jordan
Date of Thesis:
May 2013
Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) is a form of HIV-1 transmission that can occur through pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Many resource-rich countries have virtually eliminated this form of transmission, but in many resource-poor countries MTCT is still common. Most children under the age of ten become infected through this means of transmission. In this research review, many different studies and sources have been examined to answer these questions: does breastfeeding transmit HIV-1, should mothers who are HIV-positive breastfeed, and how can more cases of MTCT be prevented? Based on the articles and sources reviewed, HIV-1 can be transmitted through breastfeeding. The choice to breastfeed should be determined based on whether or not the mother who is HIV-positive has the means to safely formula feed their infant. Many women in resource-rich countries have this option, and should therefore formula feed. However, for many women in resource-poor countries breastfeeding is suggested. This is because the risk of the infant becoming HIV-positive through breastfeeding does not outweigh the risk of the infant becoming infected with another disease through contaminated formula. Many women are not educated on HIV/AIDS and therefore do not know ways to protect themselves from this disease. If effective education was more prevalent, the number of HIV-1 infections caused by MTCT through breastfeeding would decrease and, thus, the virus would be less prevalent.