Morbidity and Mortality in Breastfed and Formula-Fed Infants of HIV-1–Infected Women

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Abstract
We conducted a randomized clinical trial of breastfeeding and formula feeding in Nairobi, Kenya, and previously reported that the estimated risk of breast milk transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was 16%.1 Forty-four percent of all HIV-1 infections among those in the breastfeeding arm were attributable to breastfeeding. This result, in conjunction with results from clinical trials of short-course antiretrovirals that have reported approximately 40% to 50% reductions in perinatal transmission rates, suggest that it may be possible to reduce substantially mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in the developing world with interventions of moderate cost.2