Women, who are HIV-positive, may transmit the virus to their babies during labour
and through breast milk. HIV-positive mothers have to be counselled and encouraged
to make informed decisions about the feeding of their babies to avoid this
transmission. The feeding choices are exclusive breast-feeding, exclusive formula
feeding or modified feeding.
This study focused on the perceptions, knowledge and experiences of breast-feeding
women living with HIV/AIDS in the Oshakati District, northern Namibia. A
qualitative descriptive research design was used to conduct the study.
The research study was conducted at the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
(PMTCT) Clinic, in the Intermediate Hospital, Oshakati. The Medical Superintendent
of the hospital gave the researcher permission to conduct the study at the PMTCT
clinic. A purposive sample was used consisting of 14 breastfeeding women who were
HIV-positive and aged between 15-49 years. The ages of their babies were between
one day and six months.
The data was collected through individual face-to-face interviews. The interviews
were tape-recorded with the permission of the respondents. The interviews were
transcribed verbatim and data were analysed by thematic content analysis. The Health
Belief Model guided the description and interpretation of the data.
Findings from the study revealed that some women had inadequate knowledge about
the transmission of HIV through breast-feeding. Their breastfeeding choices were
influenced by their knowledge and perceptions while their experiences were shaped
by their relationships with their partners and family. Their families, the community
and the health professionals generally did not support them. Breast-feeding women
living with HIV/AIDS had difficulties in coping with their condition within the
community.
The research results indicated a need to: educate the community on the transmission
of HIV/AIDS and the risks related to mixed feeding; to encourage their partners,
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family members and professionals to offer support where needed, and to monitor the
breastfeeding women’s adherence to exclusive breast / formula feeding. The areas of
concern amongst the breast-feeding women were the fear of stigma, discrimination
and abandonment by their family members and their husbands/partners. The research
findings will be disseminated to Ministry of Health and Social Services as well as the
Medical Superintendent of the Intermediate Hospital, Oshakati.

Further research on Community and Home Based Care for breastfeeding mothers is
strongly recommended with regard to the prevention of MTCT and finding a way to
inform HIV positive mothers about feeding choices to protect the lives of their babies.