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Acceptability of Heat Treating Breast Milk to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Zimbabwe: A Qualitative Study

M. Catherine Maternowska, PhD, MPH

Barbara F. Abrams, DrPH

Pamela Morrison, IBCLC

Livona Chitibura

University of Zimbabwe/University of California, San Francisco Collaborative Research Programme on Women’s Health

Tsungai Chipato, MD

University of Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe/University of California, San Francisco, Collaborative Research Programme on Women’s Health

Zvavahera M. Chirenje, MD

University of Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe/University of California, San Francisco Collaborative Research Programme

Nancy S. Padian, PhD

Caroline J. Chantry, MD

University of California, Davis, Medical Center

Although heat treatment of human milk is an official infant-feeding recommendation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive mothers in Zimbabwe, its implementation has not been adequately addressed, because knowledge about the safety of this method is rudimentary and its acceptability is poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, the authors conducted focus group discussions among mothers, grandmothers, midwives, and husbands in various regions of Zimbabwe. Although the practice of heat treating expressed human milk was initially met with skepticism because of potential obstacles, including time constraints and social and cultural stigma, a pattern of opinion reversal emerged in all groups. By the end of each discussion, participants believed that, given its affordability and its potential to protect infants from HIV infection, heat-treated human milk may be a feasible infant-feeding option for HIV-positive mothers in Zimbabwe. These findings merit further investigation so that appropriate behavioral strategies can be designed.

Key Words: mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) • infant feeding • human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) • expressed breast milk • heat treatment

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Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 22, No. 1, 48-60 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0890334405283621


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