Study Results
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Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
3465 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2001-10-31
2006-10-31
Brief Summary
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A medical study recently suggested that HIV-infected women who exclusively breastfed their children i.e. gave breastmilk but without any water, tea, formula milk or any solid foods did not pass on the virus to their children to the same degree as women who MBF with these other fluids and foods. It is important to confirm whether this observation is in fact true or not. We hypothesize that exclusive breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers carries a lower risk of HIV transmission than mixed breastfeeding.
We propose to follow 2,100 HIV-infected pregnant women and also some HIV-uninfected women from the time that they book at the clinic until 24 months of age. HIV-infected women who say they intend to breastfeed and all the HIV-uninfected women will be visited at their homes by breastfeeding counsellors both before and after delivery to support exclusive breastfeeding. HIV-infected women who choose not to breastfeed will be helped by clinic staff to safely replace all breastmilk with some other milk. An independent team will visit all mothers at their homes and collect information about the way they feed their children. Blood samples will be collected from the children at different times by a simple heel prick and the blood stored on a piece of filter paper. By testing these samples and comparing with the type of feeding at that time, we will be able to see when a child becomes infected and whether exclusive breastfeeding gives any protection.
Detailed Description
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We propose a cohort study of HIV-infected mothers and their infants, to examine the risk of post-natal transmission of HIV in relation to infant feeding practices after mothers receive intensive breastfeeding counselling and support to practise EBF until about 6 months of age (the optimal duration for EBF).
The hypothesis being tested is: Exclusive breastfeeding by HIV-infected women carries no additional risk of post-natal transmission of HIV than exclusive formula feeding.
The primary objectives of the study are to determine the effect of infant feeding practices on HIV infection rates of infants at 6 and 22 weeks of age, and secondly to to determine the infant survival rate at 24 months of age according to feeding practices and HIV status.
Secondary objectives are:
i) To determine the HIV infection rate of infants as measured of a sample collected within 72 hours of birth; ii) To determine the HIV transmission incidence attributable to the duration of different feeding practices; iii) To determine the cumulative incidence of vertical transmission in EBF, MBF and EFF infants; iv) To describe risk factors, other than feeding practice, for post-natal transmission of HIV, including maternal and infant morbidity and breast health; v) To assess the determinants of transmission in MBF adjusting for exposure factors e.g. type and age of introduction of other food/milk; vi) To describe the morbidity and growth of infants in relation to feeding practices and HIV status; and vii) To describe adherence rates to EBF following a breastfeeding support intervention.
HIV infected women will be counselled according to the WHO/UNICEF/UNAIDS infant feeding guidelines. All HIV-infected women and a random sub-sample of HIV-uninfected women will be recruited antenatally. Those who choose to breastfeed will be visited frequently at home by a team of breastfeeding counsellors before and after delivery to promote and support EBF. HIV-infected mothers who choose not to breastfeed will be supported in their choice by clinic-based staff. An independent team of field monitors will collect data weekly on feeding practices and morbidity of all infants at home visits. Blood samples will be collected by finger/heel prick and stored on filter paper prior to qualitative and quantitative estimation of HIV viral content to determine the timing of transmission.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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NA
SINGLE_GROUP
PREVENTION
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Infant feeding counselling and support
All mothers provided with counselling. Subsequent support interventions depended on mothers' selection of feeding practice
Infant feeding counselling and support
Counselling of appropriate feeding practices as recommended in WHO/UNICEF/UNAIDS guidelines on HIV and infant feeding. Subsequent intensive, home-based support of exclusive breastfeeding or safe replacement feeding according to mothers' selection of feeding practice. Counselling contacts with mothers varied over time. 1-2 antenatal contacts. After delivery, home visits by infant feeding counsellors 3-4 times in first 2 weeks then every 2 weeks until 6 months.
Outcome data collected by separate field based team who were blinded to mothers HIV status and infant feeding practice.
Interventions
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Infant feeding counselling and support
Counselling of appropriate feeding practices as recommended in WHO/UNICEF/UNAIDS guidelines on HIV and infant feeding. Subsequent intensive, home-based support of exclusive breastfeeding or safe replacement feeding according to mothers' selection of feeding practice. Counselling contacts with mothers varied over time. 1-2 antenatal contacts. After delivery, home visits by infant feeding counsellors 3-4 times in first 2 weeks then every 2 weeks until 6 months.
Outcome data collected by separate field based team who were blinded to mothers HIV status and infant feeding practice.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
* Failure to give consent.
* Less than 16 years of age.
16 Years
FEMALE
Yes
Sponsors
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Wellcome Trust
OTHER
University of KwaZulu
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Hoosen M Coovadia, MB
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal, and University of the Witwatersand, South Africa
Marie Louise Newell, PhD
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
University of KwaZulu-Natal and Institute for Child Health, University College, London
Locations
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Kwadabeka health centre
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies
Somkele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Countries
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References
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Bland R, Coovadia H, Coutsoudis A, Rollins N, Newell M. Cohort profile: mamanengane or the Africa centre vertical transmission study. Int J Epidemiol. 2010 Apr;39(2):351-60. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyp165. Epub 2009 Mar 31. No abstract available.
Neveu D, Viljoen J, Bland RM, Nagot N, Danaviah S, Coutsoudis A, Rollins NC, Coovadia HM, Van de Perre P, Newell ML. Cumulative exposure to cell-free HIV in breast milk, rather than feeding pattern per se, identifies postnatally infected infants. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Mar 15;52(6):819-25. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciq203.
Patel D, Bland R, Coovadia H, Rollins N, Coutsoudis A, Newell ML. Breastfeeding, HIV status and weights in South African children: a comparison of HIV-exposed and unexposed children. AIDS. 2010 Jan 28;24(3):437-45. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283345f91.
Becquet R, Bland R, Leroy V, Rollins NC, Ekouevi DK, Coutsoudis A, Dabis F, Coovadia HM, Salamon R, Newell ML. Duration, pattern of breastfeeding and postnatal transmission of HIV: pooled analysis of individual data from West and South African cohorts. PLoS One. 2009 Oct 16;4(10):e7397. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007397.
Rollins NC, Becquet R, Bland RM, Coutsoudis A, Coovadia HM, Newell ML. Infant feeding, HIV transmission and mortality at 18 months: the need for appropriate choices by mothers and prioritization within programmes. AIDS. 2008 Nov 12;22(17):2349-57. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e328312c740.
Desmond C, Bland RM, Boyce G, Coovadia HM, Coutsoudis A, Rollins N, Newell ML. Scaling-up exclusive breastfeeding support programmes: the example of KwaZulu-Natal. PLoS One. 2008 Jun 18;3(6):e2454. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002454.
Bland RM, Little KE, Coovadia HM, Coutsoudis A, Rollins NC, Newell ML. Intervention to promote exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life in a high HIV prevalence area. AIDS. 2008 Apr 23;22(7):883-91. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3282f768de.
Lebon A, Bland RM, Rollins NC, Coutsoudis A, Coovadia H, Newell ML. Short communication: CD4 counts of HIV-infected pregnant women and their infected children--implications for PMTCT and treatment programmes. Trop Med Int Health. 2007 Dec;12(12):1472-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01954.x.
Bland RM, Becquet R, Rollins NC, Coutsoudis A, Coovadia HM, Newell ML. Breast health problems are rare in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women who receive counseling and support for breast-feeding in South Africa. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Dec 1;45(11):1502-10. doi: 10.1086/523320. Epub 2007 Oct 22.
Bland RM, Rollins NC, Coovadia HM, Coutsoudis A, Newell ML. Infant feeding counselling for HIV-infected and uninfected women: appropriateness of choice and practice. Bull World Health Organ. 2007 Apr;85(4):289-96. doi: 10.2471/blt.06.032441.
Coovadia HM, Rollins NC, Bland RM, Little K, Coutsoudis A, Bennish ML, Newell ML. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 infection during exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life: an intervention cohort study. Lancet. 2007 Mar 31;369(9567):1107-16. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60283-9.
Rollins NC, Coovadia HM, Bland RM, Coutsoudis A, Bennish ML, Patel D, Newell ML. Pregnancy outcomes in HIV-infected and uninfected women in rural and urban South Africa. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007 Mar 1;44(3):321-8. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31802ea4b0.
Thairu LN, Pelto GH, Rollins NC, Bland RM, Ntshangase N. Sociocultural influences on infant feeding decisions among HIV-infected women in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Matern Child Nutr. 2005 Jan;1(1):2-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2004.00001.x.
Shah S, Rollins NC, Bland R; Child Health Group. Breastfeeding knowledge among health workers in rural South Africa. J Trop Pediatr. 2005 Feb;51(1):33-8. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmh071. Epub 2004 Dec 15.
Bland RM, Rollins NC, Van den Broeck J, Coovadia HM; Child Health Group. The use of non-prescribed medication in the first 3 months of life in rural South Africa. Trop Med Int Health. 2004 Jan;9(1):118-24. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2003.01148.x.
Rollins NC, Dedicoat M, Danaviah S, Page T, Bishop K, Kleinschmidt I, Coovadia HM, Cassol SA; Child Health Group. Prevalence, incidence, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in rural South Africa. Lancet. 2002 Aug 3;360(9330):389. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(02)09599-5.
Bland RM, Rollins NC, Coutsoudis A, Coovadia HM; Child Health Group. Breastfeeding practices in an area of high HIV prevalence in rural South Africa. Acta Paediatr. 2002;91(6):704-11. doi: 10.1080/080352502760069151.
Other Identifiers
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WT063009
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id