Factors influencing the choices of infant feeding of HIV positive mothers in Southern Ghana: The role of counsellors, mothers, families and socio-economic status

Abstract

The study assessed the perspectives of HIV-positive mothers and family members (grand-mothers and 
fathers) of the infant feeding options recommended for HIV-infected mothers in Ghana. This entailed 
individual interviews with 40 HIV-positive mothers with infants aged 0 to 12 months and 6 focus group 
discussions with HIV-positive mothers, fathers and grandmothers of unknown status in two urban districts. 
All infants born to HIV-positive mothers in both districts had been breastfed. Breastfeeding was initiated 
between three hours and three days following birth. While some of the infants had been exclusively breast
fed, none had been exclusively formula fed. Early mixed feeding patterns were deeply entrenched. Barriers to 
exclusive replacement feeding by HIV-positive mothers included cultural and familial influences, socio
economic factors including cost of infant formula, lack of access to fridges, clean water and fuel. 
Interventions designed to promote safer infant feeding among HIV-infected mothers in these settings need to 
be mindful of these barriers (socio-economic, cultural and familial) that these women face. Failure by policy 
makers to incorporate these issues will continue to lead to a gap between well-intended policies and 
programmes, and actual practices of HIV-positive mothers.