OBJECTIVE: to determine the influence of breast-feeding on HIV-seroprevalence among newborns of HIV-infected mothers. METHODS: All the examined HIV(+) women which had delivery after May 1988 were suggested to wean their infants. RESULTS: Among 32 observed 'mother-child' pairs 2 children died in perinatal period, 2--emigrated, 28--were enrolled in the survey. 5 children under 12 months of age are still being followed up. Among 23 pairs 6 children were breast-fed, 17--bottle-fed. Out of those 17 bottle-fed, 16 infants were found HIV(-) in 12 months, 1--HIV(+) at the age of 15 months (P = 0.021). 5 of the 6 breast-fed were confirmed sero(+), being known that 2 got infected via breastfeeding as their mothers had been infected via hemotransfusion after delivery (P = 0.089). The 6th breast-fed was found sero(-), the duration of his breast-feeding was only 1 month. Thus, HIV-seroprevalence among bottle-fed newborns was significantly less than in those which were breast-fed by their mothers prior to May 1988 (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We believe our investigation has revealed that breast-feeding presents a high risk for maternal-infant HIV- transmission. Bottle-feeding may be suggested as a preventive measure for HIV-seroprevalence among children.

Blood Transfusion/ADVERSE EFFECTS Bottle Feeding Breast Feeding Female Human HIV Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION HIV Seropositivity/TRANSMISSION Infant Infant, Newborn Pregnancy Weaning ABSTRACT

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