BMJ 2001;323:1188 ( 17 November )

Letters

Breast feeding must consider HIV transmission in Latin America and the Caribbean

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR---Betrán et al's paper confirms the importance of exclusive breast feeding in reducing infant morbidity and mortality in the Latin American and Caribbean region.1 The authors did not, however, mention other cost effectiveness analyses of the promotion of breast feeding in Latin America that have been carried out.

In particular, through controlled designs Horton et al examined the effectiveness and cost of hospital based promotion of breast feeding in urban areas in three Latin American countries (Mexico, Honduras, and Brazil).2 They concluded that investing in the promotion of exclusive breast feeding and of any breast feeding is highly cost effective and should be part of the basic public health and clinical services packages of countries in the region.

This work highlighted the relevance of breastfeeding peer counsellors, which was confirmed in a subsequent experimental study in Mexico City.3 There, a threefold to fivefold increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates . . . [Full text of this article]
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Relevant Article

Ecological study of effect of breast feeding on infant mortality in Latin America
Ana P Betrán, Mercedes de Onís, Jeremy A Lauer, and José Villar
BMJ 2001 323: 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Sharland, M, Gibb, D M, Tudor-Williams, G (2003). Advances in the prevention and treatment of paediatric HIV infection in the United Kingdom. Sex. Transm. Infect. 79: 53-55 [Full text]  
  • Sharland, M, Gibb, D M, Tudor-Williams, G (2002). Advances in the prevention and treatment of paediatric HIV infection in the United Kingdom. Arch. Dis. Child. 87: 178-180 [Full text]  
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