Infant feeding practices and attitudes among women with HIV infection in northern Thailand.
Knowledge and attitudes towards infant feeding among women in northern Thailand were examined. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were undertaken in three districts of Chiang Rai province. Subjects included postnatal women with HIV infection (group 1, n=80), antenatal women with HIV infection (group 2, n=36) and antenatal women with unknown HIV status (group 3, n=86). Advantages of breastfeeding and formula feeding according to several characteristics (convenience, cleanliness, cheapness and safety) were rated using a four-point (0-3) scale. Overall, breastfeeding was rated much higher (11.4/12) than formula feeding (6.1/12)(p < 0.0005). Formula feeding rating was highest among postnatal women with HIV infection (6.8/12); however, it was lower than the rating for breastfeeding (11.3/12). The vast majority of women with HIV infection were either formula feeding (group 1, 94%) or intended to formula feed (group 2, 72%) their infants. In contrast, the vast majority of antenatal women of unknown HIV status planned to breastfeed (group 3, 83%). All women, regardless of HIV status, consider breastfeeding to be more advantageous than formula feeding. However, once women with HIV infection are informed of the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding, they are able to make their own decision to follow the Thai Ministry of Public Health's recommendation to formula feed.