Women’s breast-feeding meanings in the context of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Abstract

This study explored infant feeding practice meanings of HIV-positive mothers. Informants were eight black South African mothers (age range 18–29 years) enrolled in a mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) prevention programme. In-depth interviews on factors that influence exclusive breast-feeding were conducted with the mothers. Thematic analysis of the data yielded meanings around practices of knowledge contestation with health care providers and family, work demands, and personal preferences. Moreover, successful breast-feeding by mothers with HIV status may depend on addressing contradictory messages by health workers on infant feeding and community and family pressure to mix-feed the infant children.