Providers have a responsibility to discuss options for infant feeding with pregnant people with HIV in high-income countries.
Jennifer R McKinneyGayatri MiraniJudy LevisonPublished in: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (2022)
Guidelines in high-income countries generally recommend against breastfeeding for a pregnant person with HIV due to the historical risk of transmission to the infant and generally acceptable, safe, and sustainable access to formula. Maternal antiretroviral therapy and infant prophylaxis have been shown to significantly decrease the risk of transmission during breastfeeding. In addition, formula may not be acceptable to patients for a variety of cultural, social, or personal reasons, and its sustainability is called into question in the setting of the current nationwide formula shortage. Providers caring for pregnant people with HIV have a responsibility to discuss infant feeding with their patients, and help them weigh the risks and benefits within the limits of the current body of evidence. We outline a process, including a written agreement, that can be used to discuss infant feeding with all patients and help them make the best decision for their family.