Antiretroviral drugs and breastfeeding
Q.4 Is Option B better for mothers?
Available evidence shows that mothers who take the ARVs recommended in Option B do gain some health benefits while they are taking the medicines. However, this benefit ends once mothers stop taking the ARVs. At the same time, it is not known whether stopping the ARVs after the period of breastfeeding has any negative consequences for mothers, such as the development of resistance. If adherence to the interventions is good, then the likelihood of resistance is low; if there are interruptions in taking the medicines, either because the mother forgets to take the medicines every day or there are breaks in supply from the clinics, then the development of resistance is possible. Future research evidence will clarify this.