Post by V on Aug 30, 2010 17:42:59 GMT -5
A new study has come out involving sub-Saharan African women who are HIV positive, involving their breast milk. Apparently, women in countries like this often breastfeed their babies despite knowingly having HIV. I’m assuming that this is because of lack of information about HIV itself and how it can be spread to your children and a lack of resources for alternatives to breast milk (read: formula). So, I will let it slide that these women are even breastfeeding their babies in the first place, despite knowingly being HIV positive.
Apparently, the study found that adding Vitamin A and beta-carotene increases the presence of HIV in breast milk, thereby also increasing the likelihood that babies would contract HIV from their mothers. Which just simply breastfeeding while HIV positive does anyway.
However, this can be an issue in sub-Saharan Africa. Why? Well, it turns out that Vitamin A is important for women in countries like this.
So, apparently in lower doses it might not be dangerous, but at the doses used in the study…yeah, dangerous idea. Then again, breastfeeding while knowingly HIV positive is a dangerous idea in and of itself. I wish that these women had better access to HIV education and better resources. Mother-to-child infections would probably substantially decrease if that were the case. I think that this is a good time to stop and think about the fact that just because HIV is not as much of a problem here in the States as it is in places like Africa, that doesn’t mean it should be ignored or that the other countries where it is more prevalent should be ignored. We are all people and we all walk this earth together. Ultimately, what effects one country will effect other countries, as well. This is not just an African problem. This is a global problem. We need to work harder at finding a cure, and at making treatments more available and affordable. We need to work harder at educating both men and women, starting from an earlier age all over the globe than is generally seen, about sex, safe sex, HIV/AIDS, other STDs/STIs and the spread thereof and the effects thereof.
Contraception needs to be more readily available to people of all ages of sexual maturity — regardless of whether the mind has caught up with the body, yet. Perhaps it’s even more important in that instance, because at least if you’re going to do it, you will be prepared. People need to stop decrying the use of and distribution of contraceptives. Age rates for buying contraception need to be lowered. Schools need to be able to give out contraception for free without worrying that they will be demonized for it. Not just in Africa, but in the US. Female condoms and male condoms, especially. But, there’s no harm combining a condom with another sort of contraception.
A lot of rapes also occur in Africa. Better educating women and men from an early age on the subject of rape is also a great idea. Even though a lot of HIV infections are spread mother-to-child, a lot of them are also spread because of rapes, as well. Finding new and better ways for women to stop rape attempts — such as with the Rape-Ex Condom, would greatly improve things, as well.
Sources:
www.antirape.co.za/
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100826182506.htm
Apparently, the study found that adding Vitamin A and beta-carotene increases the presence of HIV in breast milk, thereby also increasing the likelihood that babies would contract HIV from their mothers. Which just simply breastfeeding while HIV positive does anyway.
Vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements are unsafe for HIV-positive women who breastfeed because they may boost the excretion of HIV in breast milk — thereby increasing the chances of transmitting the infection to the child, a pair of new studies suggest.
However, this can be an issue in sub-Saharan Africa. Why? Well, it turns out that Vitamin A is important for women in countries like this.
The findings are potentially controversial because vitamin A is an important supplement for postpartum women in countries where HIV infection is highly prevalent, but supplementation programs may not take into account a woman’s HIV status.
So, apparently in lower doses it might not be dangerous, but at the doses used in the study…yeah, dangerous idea. Then again, breastfeeding while knowingly HIV positive is a dangerous idea in and of itself. I wish that these women had better access to HIV education and better resources. Mother-to-child infections would probably substantially decrease if that were the case. I think that this is a good time to stop and think about the fact that just because HIV is not as much of a problem here in the States as it is in places like Africa, that doesn’t mean it should be ignored or that the other countries where it is more prevalent should be ignored. We are all people and we all walk this earth together. Ultimately, what effects one country will effect other countries, as well. This is not just an African problem. This is a global problem. We need to work harder at finding a cure, and at making treatments more available and affordable. We need to work harder at educating both men and women, starting from an earlier age all over the globe than is generally seen, about sex, safe sex, HIV/AIDS, other STDs/STIs and the spread thereof and the effects thereof.
Contraception needs to be more readily available to people of all ages of sexual maturity — regardless of whether the mind has caught up with the body, yet. Perhaps it’s even more important in that instance, because at least if you’re going to do it, you will be prepared. People need to stop decrying the use of and distribution of contraceptives. Age rates for buying contraception need to be lowered. Schools need to be able to give out contraception for free without worrying that they will be demonized for it. Not just in Africa, but in the US. Female condoms and male condoms, especially. But, there’s no harm combining a condom with another sort of contraception.
A lot of rapes also occur in Africa. Better educating women and men from an early age on the subject of rape is also a great idea. Even though a lot of HIV infections are spread mother-to-child, a lot of them are also spread because of rapes, as well. Finding new and better ways for women to stop rape attempts — such as with the Rape-Ex Condom, would greatly improve things, as well.
Sources:
www.antirape.co.za/
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100826182506.htm