Best practice infant feeding regimens for children born to HIV-positive mothers, based on WHO guidelines52–53
| Age group (months) | Recommended management for feeding children born to HIV-positive mothers |
|---|---|
| 0–6 | Exclusive breast feeding, unless replacement feeding is AFASS |
| If replacement feeding is AFASS, then breast feeding should be avoided | |
| 6–8 | If replacement feeding is not AFASS, continue with breast feeding and introduce complementary alternative foodstuffs |
| Alternative foods should be fortified with supplements if animal food sources are not available | |
| Food should be of a pureed or mashed consistency. | |
| AFASS situation should be constantly assessed | |
| 9–11 | As above but with more solid foods, or so-called ‘finger foods’ |
| 12–23 | In general, children can eat the same meals as family members |
Daily calorie requirements of children depend on HIV clinical status and can be seen in table 1.
AFASS, acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe.