Infant Feeding for Persons Living with and at Risk for HIV in the United States: Clinical Report, American Academy of Pediatrics (2024)

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their guidance on recommended infant feeding practices. These updates reverse prior guidance and instruct pediatric care providers to offer a "family-centered, nonjudgmental, harm reduction approach" to support people living with HIV who want to breast/chestfeed and are virally suppressed on antiretroviral therapy. AAP guidelines are used by pediatricians, nurses, and lactation specialists who work directly with children and families.

The updates to AAP's guidelines follow 2023 updates to the Infant Feeding for Individuals with HIV in the United States section in the Perinatal HIV Clinical Guidelines, issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which provide information for healthcare providers to engage with women and other birthing parents living with HIV about decisions related to pregnancy and infant feeding. Both these updates reflect the evidence-based understanding that when mothers are virally suppressed, the rate of HIV transmission through breastfeeding is less than 1 percent. Guidance in the US is now consistent with guidelines in many parts of the world that have long supported breast/chestfeeding among women living with HIV who are taking effective HIV treatment.

Summary courtesy of The Well Project.