HIV and the magnitude of pregnancy-related mortality in Pointe Noire, Congo

A Review of Evidence for Transmission of HIV From Children to Breastfeeding Women and Implications for Prevention

“…A number of studies have also observed higher rates of maternal mortality among HIV-infected women when compared with their HIV-uninfected counterparts, indicating that HIV-exposed infants are at higher risk of becoming maternal orphans than infants of HIV-uninfected women. [31][32][33][34] It remains unclear what proportion of female caretakers choose to breastfeed orphans, or what proportion of cross-feeding or wet-nursing involves HIV-infected orphans. Although cases of CBWT have not yet been documented in this population, the conditions necessary for HIV transmission from child to caretaker are in place.…”

REVIEW: Appropriate technology to prevent maternal mortality: current research requirements

“…Knowledge about effective strategies has increased; randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews have clarified many clinical questions; governments have established Safe Motherhood programmes; and health care providers at various levels have been trained in life‐saving skills. While a few countries such as Malaysia and Sri Lanka have made remarkable progress, many more have seen little improvement and others have been pushed backward by HIV/AIDS, civil conflict, natural disasters and crumbling health infrastructures 3–5 . Maternal mortality involves a complex mixture of clinical, infrastructural and social issues.…”

Effectiveness of the Regular Implementation of the Mother to Child Transmission Plus (MTCT-Plus) Program in Burkina Faso, West Africa

“…The lower fertility rate in HIV+ women, especially in the advanced stages of the illness, could be another possible reason (Le Coeur et al, 2005), and this reinforce the need to link HIV treatment and reproductive health services in the framework of the MTCT-plus initiative.…”