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Using IMRs to inform policy decisions on infant feeding and HIV

Summary of published research1

Feeding bottles in a camp in Pakistan

A recently published paper presents an analysis of the impact of WHO infant feeding recommendations in different settings characterised by infant mortality rate (IMR). The findings inform HIV-related infant feeding policy decisions and are not intended for individual counselling of HIV-positive mothers.

Using mathematical simulation modelling, the effects of three intervention scenarios on HIV-free survival (HFS) of children aged up to 24 months of age were considered:

Method

The modelling estimated rates of HIV transmission and non-HIV related deaths in seven age intervals in children under the age of 2 years. For every 1000 live births, the model calculated the number of infant HIV infections and non HIV-related deaths occurring during each interval.

To illustrate the comparisons, data were used from Ethiopia from both rural (IMR 115/1000 live births, 85% of the population) and urban (IMR 97/1000 live births) areas. Antenatal HIV prevalence was 3.7% in rural areas and 13.2% in urban areas. Ethiopia was selected due to its rapidly expanding Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) prevention programmes, rural/urban differences, and IMRs which have not increased due to the HIV pandemic.

Critical IMRs were estimated to identify populations, characterised by the IMR, where the optimal postnatal intervention strategies would vary, in order to inform policy discussions. The sensitivity of the values were examined by rerunning the model simulations using the lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence intervals for estimates of the age-specific risks for each of the interventions.

Main findings

In Ethiopia, EBF6 produced the best HFS per 1000 live births in HIV-positive women in both rural and urban areas. In urban areas, RF24 produced a similar outcome to no postnatal intervention. The findings from Ethiopia suggest that RF should not be generally promoted as an infant feeding strategy to reduce MTCT. In both settings, exclusive breastfeeding for six months with early breastfeeding cessation is the best strategy.

Critical IMR2 values identified were as follows:

Sensitivity analysis found that:

Limitations of the study

Conservatively high estimates of the risk of HIV transmission in the first weeks of life were made, since this cannot be identified using current testing methods.

The estimate for postnatal transmission rates for EBF is based on one observational study from Zimbabwe where early EBF was associated with a reduced risk of HIV transmission3.

The age-specific risk of death from artificial feeding is based on studies where mothers chose to feed artificially for reasons unrelated to HIV. The authors suggest that the relative risk of mortality due to no BF is likely to be greater where BF is avoided due to maternal HIV or related illness. Population-based data on HIVassociated artificial feeding are urgently needed.

IMR is used in this modelling as it reflects the burden of infectious disease, poor hygiene and sanitation and limited access to quality healthcare, which are the same conditions that increase the risk of RF in infants. While most deaths associated with HIV occur after infancy, the authors advise caution applying these findings to settings where the IMR is highly influenced by the HIV pandemic. They recommend policy makers use IMRs estimates prior to the epidemic circulation, or draw conclusions with caution.

A mother breastfeeds her baby in South Sudan

The analysis assumes full compliance of HIV-positive mothers with the WHO-recommended advice. Imperfect compliance will influence outcomes. For example, lower compliance with EBF6 (i.e. non-exclusive breastfeeding) will increase postnatal transmission.

IMR may vary substantially among different sub-populations within countries. Thus population- based analysis is not a substitute for individual counselling and informed choice with individual risk assessment.

Mathematical simulations simplify the difficult choices facing policy makers and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Introducing breastmilk substitutes into health programmes has been problematic and controversial. Tools are needed to evaluate whether such procurement is appropriate or whether efforts and resources should be directed elsewhere, e.g. on supporting EBF with early BF cessation and nutrition support for young children.

Conclusions

IMR-based analyses can help to guide government policy decisions about which infant feeding strategies to invest in and emphasise for HIV-positive mothers in different settings.

The authors conclude that findings from new research on making BF safer for HIV-positive mothers, through extended ARV prophylaxis, prevention and treatment of breast infections, and EBF must urgently be put into practice.

 

WHO recommendations

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV occurs during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and through breastfeeding (BF). WHO recommends avoidance of all BF when replacement feeding (RF) is affordable, feasible, acceptable, sustainable, and safe. Otherwise, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) followed by early BF cessation is recommended.

New guidelines by WHO on the use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent infant HIV infection in resource limited settings recommend single, dual and triple therapy options that would reduce the risk of the infant being born with HIV to 5-14%.

Show footnotes

1Piwoz EG and Ross JS (2005): Use of Population-Specific Infant Mortality Rates to Inform Policy Decisions Regarding HIV and Infant Feeding. The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 135:1113-1119, May 2005

2A critical value is the value for which the number of HIVfree survivors is the same for the two intervention scenarios being compared, holding all other values constant.

3See research summary in Field Exchange 26.

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Using IMRs to inform policy decisions on infant feeding and HIV. Field Exchange 27, March 2006. p9. www.ennonline.net/fex/27/imr

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