The World Health Organization most recent guidelines recommend that HIV-positive mothers exclusively breastfeed unless replacement foods meet the criteria of acceptability, feasibility, affordability, sustainability, and safety (AFASS). However, the fear of HIV transmission through breastfeeding has pressured these mothers into choosing replacement feeding whether they meet AFASS criteria or not. This choice has subjected infants to malnutrition and related deaths. This qualitative study is based on Scheper-Hughes and Lock's (1987) Three Bodies Model. Discussions were carried out in a Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Program (PMTCT) in Hawassa, Ethiopia using in-depth interviews, key informant interviews and focus groups. The study focused on the challenges that HIV positive mothers face due to inadequate counseling services, poor economic situations, and lack of support and follow up. The Three Bodies Model exposes the deficits in the comprehensive delivery of services by PMTCT programs. Implications for social work practice and funding policies are discussed.

Mode of access: Internet.