SynthesisBMC public health2026
Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan African countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionThe World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, along with maternal antiretroviral treatment, to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to infants and promote their health and survival. However, globally, this practice is not as widespread as it should be, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, as shown by several studies among HIV-infected mothers. However, no comprehensive review has examined the overall prevalence and the factors influencing it. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the overall prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa.
methodsInternational electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science were systematically searched for observational studies on exclusive breastfeeding among HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa published after 2010. Citation tracking revealed additional references. Two authors extracted the necessary data independently in a standardized format, which was analyzed with STATA version 17. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool was used to assess the study quality. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Cochran Q test and quantified with the I
resultAfter 5305 studies were reviewed, 32 studies involving 9319 study participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The findings of these 32 studies revealed a pooled prevalence of 55.9% (95% CI: 45.93, 68.23%), with substantial heterogeneity (I
conclusionThis study revealed that slightly over half of HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa engage in exclusive breastfeeding. The findings highlight the need for support for HIV-infected mothers to enhance exclusive breastfeeding and minimize transmission risks, recommending better breastfeeding counseling, antenatal care, maternal education on feeding, and consideration of sociocultural factors for tailored strategies.
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