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Objective:To assess the relationship between infant feeding practices and mortality by 18 months of age among children born to HIV-infected mothers in the Kesho Bora trial (Burkina-Faso, Kenya and South Africa).Methods:Enrolled HIV-infected women were counseled to choose between breastfeeding up to 6 months or replacement feeding from delivery. Multivariable Cox models were used to compare the infant mortality risks according to feeding practices over time defined as never breastfed, weaned or still breastfed. The category still breastfed' was disaggregated as exclusively, predominantly or partially breastfed to compare modes of breastfeeding. The relationship between weaning and mortality was also assessed using marginal structural models to control for time-dependent confounders, such as maternal or infant morbidity (reverse causality).Results:Among 795 mothers, 618 (77.7%) initiated breastfeeding. Mortality rates by 18 months among uninfected and infected children were 6 and 38%, respectively. Never breastfed and weaned children were at greater risk of death compared with those still breastfed. Adjusted hazard ratios were 6.7 [95% confidence interval (CI)=2.5-17.9; P

Background. Antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis effectively reduces mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV). However, it is unclear whether stopping ARVs after breastfeeding cessation affects maternal HIV disease progression. We assessed 18-24-month postpartum disease progression risk among women in a randomized trial assessing efficacy and safety of prophylactic maternal ARVs. Methods. From 2005 to 2008, HIV-infected pregnant women with CD4(+) counts of 200-500/mm(3) were randomized to receive either triple ARV (zidovudine, lamivudine, and lopinavir/ritonavir during pregnancy and breastfeeding) or AZT/sdNVP (zidovudine until delivery with single-dose nevirapine without postpartum prophylaxis). Maternal disease progression was defined as the combined endpoint of death, World Health Organization clinical stage 4 disease, or CD4(+) counts of = 350/mm(3) progressed. Conclusions. Interrupting prolonged triple ARV prophylaxis had no effect on HIV progression following cessation (compared with AZT/sdNVP). However, women on triple ARV prophylaxis had lower progression risk during the time on triple ARV. Given the high rate of progression among women with CD4(+) cells of

Dual protection is recommended for prevention of unwanted pregnancies and protection against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. It is critical for HIV-negative women to prevent seroconversion and HIV transmission to their infants during pregnancy and breastfeeding.Women were followed up after delivery, monthly for the first 9 months and then 3-monthly to 24 months, in a cohort study investigating postnatal HIV transmission. Study nurses discussed family planning, including condom use, at each visit. Contraceptive methods used since the last visit were recorded. All women knew their HIV status, and most women breastfed for a minimum of 6 months.Among 1,137 HIV-positive and 1 220 HIV-negative women the most common contraceptive method was the hormonal injectable; few women used condoms alone or as dual contraception (0-3 months 6.8%; 7-12 months 16.3%; 19-24 months 14.4%). Compared with uninfected women, HIV-positive women were more likely to use condoms in years 1 and 2 after delivery (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-2.14, p0.001; AOR 1.61, 95% CI 1.15-2.25, p=0.006 respectively). Compared with women with a flush toilet, those with a pit latrine were less likely to use condoms in years 1 and 2 (AOR 0.22, 95% CI 01.7-0.28, p0.001; AOR 0.27, 95% CI 0.19-0.39, p0.001). Older women were more likely to use condoms in the first postpartum year (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.03-3.09, p=0.040).More creative ways of promoting condoms and dual contraception need to be found if new HIV infections, in women and children, are to be prevented.

Forty-five cases of systemic neonatal candidiasis were diagnosed over a 9-year period in a neonatal intensive care unit; 42 infants weighted less than 1.5 kg. All had been very ill with preceding bacterial sepsis and other complications of low birthweight. Where treatment was instituted the mortality was low (4 out of 39 dying) and complications of treatment were transitory. We therefore recommend diligent examination for the presence of this infection, and treatment with a combination of amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine.