RESUMO
To describe the infant feeding practices in the general population in Uganda; and to assess the impact of maternal HIV status on these practices; a questionnaire was administered to women attending the follow-up clinics for child vaccination. Among the mothers who were still breastfeeding at the time of interview (N=838); 61.4of the HIV-infected women had planned to breastfeed for a maximum of 6 months; compared with 12.1of the HIV-uninfected women (p0.001). Among the women who were not breastfeeding at the time of interview (Nof the HIV-infected women had stopped breastfeeding within 3 months; compared with 23.5of the HIV-uninfected women (p0.001). Only 2.1of HIV-infected women seen up to 14 weeks postnatally practised mixed feeding; compared with 23.6of HIV-uninfected women (p0.001). After 6 months; however; 30of the HIV-infected women and 55of the HIV-uninfected mothers were using mixed feeding; with no significant differences. Programmes for the prevention of motherto- child transmission of HIV should re-enforce counselling activities to address the issue of early weaning by HIV-infected women; and to support safe breastfeeding up to 6 months
