“My body my baby”

A qualitative study examining drivers of infant-feeding choices among women living with HIV in Philadelphia, United States

Bibliographic Data

ID19443793
AuthorsMartina Zapata Vaca (0009-0003-8283-1907, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), Chermiqua Rachelle Tsosie (0000-0001-8182-6506, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), Erin Logue-Chamberlain (0009-0007-7830-3684, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine), Paulina Coutifaris (University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine), Theresa Christensen (0000-0002-8928-5174, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine), Alexandria Bea Mabry (0000-0001-9431-6978, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University), Ola Mohamed (University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine), Ellen Tedaldi (0000-0002-8422-2983, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University), Emily A Oliver (0000-0002-7760-1790, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University), William R Short (0000-0003-4225-8336, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine), Elizabeth D Lowenthal (0000-0002-3855-8646, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume37
Issue6
Pages942-954
Publication date2025-06-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2025.2474666
PMID40082740
OpenAlexW4408465184
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited28

Before national guidelines related to infant feeding among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the United States were changed in 2023, PLHIV were discouraged from breastfeeding due to the potential risk of perinatal HIV transmission. Potential health benefits to both mother and child coupled with the ability to mitigate HIV transmission risk with modern treatments now make feeding decisions more complex for PLHIV. This study examined personal and social determinants of feeding choice among PLHIV in the Philadelphia area just prior to the change in national guidelines. In 2022 and 2023, we conducted in-depth interviews with 28 PLHIV between the ages of 18-50 years old that had previously given birth, 22 while living with HIV. Participants who gave birth while living with HIV expressed that they had not been given the choice to breastfeed. When probed about how they would consider choice in a hypothetical future pregnancy in the new guidelines era, participants' own knowledge and beliefs about what was best for their babies and themselves were consistently raised as the most influential factors. They relied strongly on their health providers for up-to-date knowledge. Advice from partners, family, and community was considered less influential for most

Breastfeeding · Environmental health · Family medicine · Formula feeding · Infant feeding · Sociology · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Demography · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology · Pediatrics

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