By John Oywa
Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) protect newborn babies from contracting HIV and Aids, a new research shows.
Scientists from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) say the findings could give hope to mothers who feared infecting their babies through breast- feeding.
"It is possible to reduce the number of babies being infected by their mothers with the use of ARVs and giving the baby only breast milk for six months," says the report made available to The Standard, yesterday.
In what is seen as a breakthrough in the fight against Aids, the researchers say a big number of HIV positive mothers could save their babies if put on ARVs for up to six months after giving birth.
Known as the Kisumu Breastfeeding Study, the research showed that of the 522 HIV positive women who took part in the study, 490 ((94 per cent) of the babies born tested negative in four months.
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ARV therapy
The study was done to find a way of reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission by using ARVs during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.
" Some babies became infected after six months after ARVs were stopped. This may have been because some mothers did not stop breast feeding at six months," says the report.
About 420,000 babies are infected with HIV in the world each year. Most of this (95 per cent) occurs in poor countries like Kenya.
To prevent transmission, experts advise two options: Using ARVs during pregnancy and delivery or abstaining from breastfeeding.
In Kenya, only a few mothers can access ARVs. Most mothers breast feed their babies for lack of alterative foods.
"To prevent mothers from infecting their babies during breast feeding, the World Health Organisation advises HIV positive mothers must not to breastfeed if other options are available," says the report.
Zidovudine is the drug commonly used to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission during pregnancy.