Page 52 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

WHO concluded that when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable,

and safe, all breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers should be avoided?

Otherwise, exclusive breastfeeding during the first months of life followed by early, rapid

cessation and substitution with alternatives is recommended.

While HIV-positive mothers should be provided with counselling on infant feeding options, there

should also be an effort to ensure positive perceptions of and attitudes towards breastfeeding

within the general pope lotion.

In addition, the unnecessary use of breast-milk substitutes by mothers who do not know their HIV

status or who are HIV-negative should be avoided.

Health workers can help to reduce rates of postnatal transmission of HIV and increase child

survival by providing HIV-infected mothers with accurate information on infant feeding.

However, some may not find the current recommendations coincide with their own values or
practices, particularly where there are high levels of malnutrition in the community.

More work is needed to promote good practice and to support grass roots health workers and the

mothers they work with.

2.7.3 Nurses and midwives with HIV/AIDS and those at risk of infection

As with the general population, incidents of health workers contracting HIV are on the increase.

A South African study has estimated that about 20% of ancillary health staff between the ages of 18 and 35

had HIV, with 13% of doctors, nurses and other health professionals having the disease.

Between 1997 and 2001 South Africa experienced a 6.7% fall in nurses registering with the South African

Nursing Council.

49 Academic Year 2025/2026