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Breastfeeding and HIV Infection in China

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) and Breastfeeding

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 743))

Abstract

Breast milk is the ideal food source for human infants, and breastfeeding is known to have many beneficial effects for both infants and mothers including providing proper nutrition, supporting the infant immune system, enhancing mother–infant bonding, and providing a decreased risk for maternal breast and ovarian cancer [1–5]. Longer term benefits of breastfeeding have also been observed including decreased risk of asthma and diabetes later in life [4]. However, breastfeeding carries a significant risk of transmission of HIV-1 (further referred to as HIV), especially in late stages of maternal disease [6–8]. In order to avoid transmitting HIV postnatally, women with HIV infection have been advised to avoid breastfeeding under certain conditions [9]. China has adopted a national policy of recommending replacement feeding for HIV-infected mothers where replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable, and safe (AFASS) [10] through the national prevention of mother-to-child transmission of (PMTCT) HIV program. In 2008, 89% of the population were reported to have access to improved water sources [11], and AFASS conditions are met in most localities in China except certain remote, mountainous, and/or ethnic minority areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Global HIV/AIDS (DGHA), Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    Christine Korhonen, Liming Wang, Serena Fuller & Marc Bulterys (Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology)

  2. CDC Global AIDS Program, Beijing, China

    Christine Korhonen, Liming Wang, Serena Fuller & Marc Bulterys (Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology)

  3. UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Christine Korhonen, Liming Wang, Serena Fuller & Marc Bulterys (Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology)

  4. National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China

    Linhong Wang & Fang Wang

Authors
  1. Christine Korhonen
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  2. Liming Wang
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  3. Linhong Wang
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  4. Serena Fuller
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  5. Fang Wang
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  6. Marc Bulterys
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Correspondence to Marc Bulterys .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Emory University, Buford Highway 4770, Atlanta, 30341, Georgia, USA

    Athena P. Kourtis

  2. and Prevention, Global AIDS Program - China, Centers for Disease Control, Emory University School of Medicine, Beijing, 100600, China, People's Republic

    Marc Bulterys

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Korhonen, C., Wang, L., Wang, L., Fuller, S., Wang, F., Bulterys, M. (2012). Breastfeeding and HIV Infection in China. In: Kourtis, A., Bulterys, M. (eds) Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) and Breastfeeding. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 743. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2251-8_17

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