Other infant feeding practices

There are three case-reports of possible transmission in which an HIV-positive caregiver has frequently pre-chewed food before giving it to the child. In two of three cases, the adult was reported to have had bleeding gums, and in two of the cases the adult was not responding well to HIV treatment.¹ Other viruses and pathogens have also been transmitted this way.

A South African study found that two-thirds of caregivers pre-chewed food for infants, although many had bleeding gums or mouth sores.² An American study found that a third of caregivers (mostly HIV-positive mothers) pre-chewed food.³ Both studies found that the practice is more common in some social groups than others.

Caregivers may pre-chew to test the food’s taste or temperature, to make it easier for the baby to eat, because the baby wants some of the adult’s food or because it is common practice in the family.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommends that HIV-positive caregivers do not pre-chew food because of the possibility of transmitting HIV to the infant.³

There have also been reports of infants of HIV-negative mothers becoming infected through exposure to HIV via wet-nursing or pooled breast milk.⁴