Ogedengbe Sunday Oladokun^1,, Ogedengbe Dorcas Talatu², Inyinbor Henry Eromosele¹, Omosigho Omoruyi Pius¹, Akobi Oliver Adeymi¹, Emumwen Evbaziegbere Gideon¹, Mohammed Kudu Sheu¹, Eze Edith Chinwe³, Oladejo Olayinka Paul⁴, Uzoigwe Eunice Ogochukwu¹, Abayomi Rachael Oluwafunmilayo¹, Akpabio Nse Sunday⁵, Salami Abubakar¹, Okorie Eucheria¹

Background: Breastfeeding is a major health promoting factor in infants and children in developing countries, but the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV by this route is challenging traditional and health policies in low resource countries. Aims: The aim of the study is to determine the effect of feeding options and infant antiretroviral prophylaxis on transmission of HIV in Bida North Central Nigeria. Patients and methods: we reviewed a total of Four hundred and fourteen (414) HIV exposed infants whose dried blood spot (DBS) samples were taken for DNA PCR test between May 2011 and July 2013 and whose parents are on antiretroviral therapy and for whom a complete set of records were available. Results: The most prevalent feeding option was mixed feeding 250(60.4%) followed by exclusive breastfeeding 84(20.3%) and exclusive formula feeding 80(19.3%). The HIV transmission rate is higher among mixed feeding 17.6% followed by exclusive breastfeeding 7.1% and exclusive formula feeding 5.0%. HIV transmission rate of 6.0% was observed for infants that were on antiretroviral prophylaxis and 43.6% for infants who were not on antiretroviral prophylaxis. Conclusion: The study shows the benefits of exclusive formula feeding and the intake of antiretroviral prophylaxis in reducing HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

antiretroviral prophylaxis, HIV, breast-fed, infants