When law and science part ways: the criminalization of breastfeeding by women living with HIV

Symington, Alison; Chingore-Munazvo, Nyasha; Moroz, Svitlana

doi:10.1177/20499361221122481

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 31 publications

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“…Such laws are often at odds with the best available science about HIV, including what we know about the low, negligible or non-existent possibility of transmission in circumstances that nonetheless still attract prosecution in many jurisdictions. 81 , 82 Multiple reviews of the literature have demonstrated that HIV criminalisation laws appear to have little impact in reducing sexual risk behaviours, while causing harm in multiple ways to people living with and communities affected by HIV, and more generally undermining an effective HIV response. 83–85 HIV criminalisation contributes to misinformation about HIV and its transmission, thereby further stigmatising people living with HIV and fostering social ostracism, discrimination and violence.…”

Section: Criminalising People Living With Hivmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decriminalisation and the end of AIDS: keep the promise, follow the science, and fulfill human rights

2023

Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters

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Section: Criminalising People Living With Hivmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decriminalisation and the end of AIDS: keep the promise, follow the science, and fulfill human rights

2023

Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters

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“We decided together”: a qualitative study about women with HIV navigating infant-feeding decisions with the father of their children

Kasadha,

Tariq,

Freeman-Romilly

et al. 2024

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women with HIV breastfeed for a minimum of one year. In contrast, United Kingdom (UK) guidelines encourage formula feeding, but breastfeeding can be supported under certain circumstances. Infant-feeding decisions often involve personal and social networks. Currently, little research addresses how individuals with HIV in high-income countries navigate infant-feeding decisions with the father of their children. Methods Semi-structured remote interviews were conducted with UK-based individuals with a confirmed HIV positive diagnosis who were pregnant or one-year postpartum, and two partners. Using purposive sampling, pregnant and postpartum participants were recruited through HIV NHS clinics and community-based organisations, and where possible, fathers were recruited via them. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and organised using NVivo 12. Results Of the 36 women interviewed, 28 were postpartum. The majority were of Black African descent (n = 22) and born outside the UK. The key factors in women navigating HIV and infant-feeding discussions with respect to their baby’s father were the latter’s: (1) awareness of woman’s HIV status; (2) relationship with the woman; (3) confidence in infant-feeding decision; (4) support and opinion about woman’s infant-feeding intentions. Most women made a joint decision with biological fathers when in a long-term (> one year) relationship with them. Single women tended not to discuss their infant-feeding decision with the father of their child, often for safety reasons. Conclusion Women in ongoing relationships with the father of their child valued their support and opinions regarding infant-feeding. In contrast, single women chose not to involve the father for reasons of privacy and safety. Clinical teams and community-based organisations should support mothers in discussing infant-feeding decisions regardless of relationship status. When appropriate, they should also support discussions with their partners, but remain sensitive to circumstances where this may put women at risk.

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Hiv Criminalization’s Origins, Enforcement, and Social Impacts

Gutorova,

Rachynska,

Gnedik

2023

Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski

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This article aims to raise awareness and stimulate serious discussion about the ineffectiveness of HIV criminalization and its impact on human rights and public health and to propose improvements in criminal law regulation. The study is based on the empirical and analytical data of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the World Health Organization, legal acts, drafts legal acts, legal practice, and statistics of Ukraine, legal acts of the USA, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. In total, 21 laws, drafts of laws, other documents, and 26 court decisions were analyzed. Dialectical, comparative, analytical, synthetic, systemic, sociological, induction, and deduction research methods were applied. The criminalization of HIV stems from a lack of awareness among policymakers and society about advances in medical science and ways to control the epidemic. Such regulation is ineffective, leads to stigmatization of people living with HIV, and has a negative impact on the epidemic. Causing harm to a person’s health by intentionally infecting a person with a severe infectious disease could be criminalized under the general norm on bodily harm, excluding the stigmatization of patients with certain nosologies.

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When law and science part ways: the criminalization of breastfeeding by women living with HIV

Cited by 4 publications

References 31 publications

Decriminalisation and the end of AIDS: keep the promise, follow the science, and fulfill human rights

Decriminalisation and the end of AIDS: keep the promise, follow the science, and fulfill human rights

“We decided together”: a qualitative study about women with HIV navigating infant-feeding decisions with the father of their children

Hiv Criminalization’s Origins, Enforcement, and Social Impacts

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