Can HIV Positive Women Breastfeed?

Breastfeeding continues to be one of the primary routes of HIV transmission in the developing world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 150,000 babies around the world are infected via breastfeeding each year. In the western world, including the United States, the risk associated with breastfeeding has a lesser impact because other options exist, namely commercially available baby formulas and access to clean water. In addition, scientists have worked extensively to develop methods of decreasing the risk of mother to child HIV transmission. And thus far their work is paying off.

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