Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Volume 30, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 208-235

Sociocultural factors influencing infant-feeding choices among African immigrant women living with HIV: A synthesis of the literature (Article)

Etowa J. , MacDonald S. , Hannan J.* , Phillips J.C. , Boadu N.Y. , Babatunde S.
  • a Department of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • b Department of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • c Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • d Department of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • e Department of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • f Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and purpose: The World Health Organizations (WHO) strategy is to eliminate pediatric HIV. HIV prevention guidelines in high-income countries recommend mothers living with HIV avoid breastfeeding. Yet, breastfeeding is promoted as the normal and unequalled method of feeding infants. This creates a paradox for mothers coming from cultures where breastfeeding is an expectation and formula feeding suggests illness. Therefore, the purpose of this literature review is to examine the context influencing infant feeding among African immigrant women living with HIV to develop interventions to reduce the risk of HIV mother-to-child transmission. Methods: Using the PEN-3 cultural model as a guide, we selected 45 empirical studies between 2001 and 2016 using 5 electronic databases on the sociocultural factors influencing infant-feeding choices and practices among African women from HIV endemic countries. Conclusions: Findings are congruent with the importance of culture when developing guidelines. Our review provides support that culture-centered interventions are crucial toward achieving the WHO's strategy to eliminate pediatric HIV. Implications for practice: Understanding the sociocultural determinants of infant-feeding choices is critical to the development of prevention initiatives to eliminate pediatric HIV. © 2018 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Author Keywords

HIV Infant feeding PEN-3 cultural model PMTCT African Canadian immigrant women Sociocultural determinants.

Index Keywords

empiricism immigrant HIV Infections transmission Human immunodeficiency virus infection human synthesis Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient African Breast Feeding Humans migrant Infant, Newborn Emigrants and Immigrants female Infant newborn artificial milk Article mother Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical world health organization vertical transmission expectation systematic review Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049403320&doi=10.1097%2fJXX.0000000000000014&partnerID=40&md5=25608ab264965a1dc17f2f5a105c7953
DOI: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000014
ISSN: 23276886
Original Language: English