Perception and Emotional Experiences of Infant Feeding Among Women Living With HIV in a High-Income Setting: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Background: The recommendation of breastfeeding avoidance for women living with HIV in high-income settings may be influenced by cultural beliefs and come at an emotional cost. This multi-center, longitudinal, convergent mixed methods study aimed to compare differences in attitudes, concerns and experiences surrounding breastfeeding in women living with HIV of Nordic and non-Nordic origin. Setting: High-income setting Methods: Pregnant women living with HIV in the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, and Sweden were recruited in 2019–2020. Quantitative data on attitudes surrounding infant feeding was assessed using the Positive Attitudes Concerning Infant Feeding (PACIFY) questionnaire completed in the third trimester (T1), and 3 (T2) and 6 (T3) months postpartum. Women who completed the survey were also invited to participate in semi-structured interviews at T1 and T3. Findings from the quantitative survey and qualitative interviews were brought together through merging to assess for concordance, complementarity, expansion, or discordance between the datasets, and to draw meta-inferences. Results: In total, 44 women completed the survey, of whom 31 also participated in qualitative interviews. The merged analyses identified three overarching domains representing commonalities across the quantitative and qualitative data: emotional impact, justifying not breastfeeding, and coping strategies. Not being able to breastfeed was emotionally challenging. Cultural expectations influenced the women’s experiences and the strategies they used to justify their infant feeding choice. Conclusion: For women living with HIV in Nordic countries not breastfeeding was a complex, multi-layered process substantially influenced by social and cultural expectations.

Perception and Emotional Experiences of Infant Feeding Among Women Living With HIV in a High-Income Setting: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study: Erratum

“…In the January 1, 2024, issue of JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , in the article by Moseholm et al 1 , “Perception and emotional experiences of infant feeding among women living with HIV in a high-income setting: A longitudinal mixed methods study,” academic titles of 4 authors were missing. The missing titles are listed in boldface: Ellen Moseholm, MScH , PhD, Michael D. Fetters, MD, PhD , Isik S. Johansen, MD, PhD , Nina Weis, MD, PhD .…”