Aims: Optimal adherence to infant feeding method of choice is not only context specific but requires deep understanding of facilitators and barriers to appropriate infant feeding. Limited data exists on these facilitators and barriers to effective adherence to appropriate infant feeding in the context of HIV infection. In this study, we determined the risk factors for in appropriate infant feeding in the context of HIV infection.
Method: Review of infant feeding practices of HIV positive mothers seen over a decade at a large HIV treatment centre in southwestern Nigeria. Data analysis was with SPSS version 20. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the risk factors for inappropriate infant feeding in the context of HIV infection.
Results: The inappropriate infant feeding rate in the context of HIV infection was 2.8%. Low educational status (aOR: 3.6; CI:2.4–5.1), low socioeconomic status (aOR: 2.3; CI: 1.3–4.1), unemployed status (aOR: 3.9; CI: 2.5–5.5), not being on care before PMTCT enrolment (aOR: 1.9; CI: 1.5–2.7), non-disclosure of HIV status (aOR: 6.3; CI: 4.9–8.3) and delivery outside an orthodox health facility (aOR: 8.1; CI: 7.4–11.7) retained significant association with inappropriate infant feeding.
Conclusion: Mothers with low educational and of low socioeconomic status, unemployed, not on care before PMTCT enrolment, yet to disclosed their HIV status and who delivered outside orthodox health facility are more likely to practice inappropriate infant feeding. Health programmes that promote safe infant feeding in context of HIV infection should target poor women and those not on care.