Grant: Operating Grant - HIV/AIDS CBR Program - General

Nearly half of all women who are HIV positive will pass the virus to their infants; more than a third of all transmissions occurs during breastfeeding without appropriate interventions. WHO recommends antiretroviral therapy with exclusive formula feeding where feasible to eliminate 90% of new HIV infections among children, and keep HIV+ mothers healthy. Although these guidelines have been useful in developed countries like Canada and the US, it has changed public ideas about infant feeding and represents a threat to Black women's perception of motherhood and breastfeeding. The influence of culture, and socio-economic factors, as well as family and community members often leads to significant stress for Black women, some of whom are often not able to adhere to the recommended infant feeding options. Our research will explore the infant feeding practices and experiences of HIV+ Black women living in Ottawa-Canada, Port Harcourt-Nigeria and Miami-USA during the first year of life. The project also seeks to empower Black women and their communities to be self-advocates in the fight against HIV. Using mixed-methods research informed by CBPR principles, we will explore the socio-cultural, gender and socio-economic factors influencing infant feeding. Understanding these issues will contribute to knowledge necessary for feasible and sustainable infant feeding guidelines for women living with HIV. The results will have important implications for informing action for the development of effective services and policies on infant feeding in the context of vertical HIV transmission. This process of this study will contribute to the empowerment of Black women living with HIV to actively engage in actions to address the challenges associated with infant feeding. It will contribute to the knowledge necessary to build individual, community, and organizational capacity and leadership to optimize HIV and infant feeding care for Black women and their communities.