Breastfeeding, mother's HIV status and choices Q.18 Do the
Guidelines remove a mother's right to decide regarding the way
in which she feeds her infant? No. A clear recommendation by a
national authority, either for breastfeeding while providing
ARVs or avoidance of all breastfeeding, is fully consistent with
respecting individual human rights. Previously, when the most
appropriate infant feeding practice for individual mothers was
dependent on her personal circumstances, health workers were
asked to present the different infant feeding options and to
help mothers make a decision. This approach is sometimes
referred to as non-directive counselling. It is appropriate when
the balance of risks of a particular option for the general
population is not clear but varies widely according to
individual circumstances. When highly effective interventions,
such as ARVs to prevent HIV transmission through breastfeeding,
are available and supported by high quality research, then it is
justifiable for health authorities to