HIV and Infant Feeding Counseling Tools

These tools were created to help health workers before, during and after a counseling session so that they can better support HIV-positive mothers.

The tools consist of the following parts:

• Counseling cards that describe the counselling process. Infant feeding counselors should use the flipchart during counseling sessions with HIV-positive pregnant women and/or mothers. The cards need local adaptation to a) identify the most acceptable/feasible feeding options from 0 to 6 months, and b) identify the most suitable foods to cover nutrient requirements from 6 to 24 months.
• Take-home flyers that explain how to practice safer infant feeding, according to the mother’s decision. The counselor should use the relevant flyer to teach the mother, and she can then use it as a reminder at home.
• A Reference guide that provides more technical and practical details than the counseling cards. Counselors can use it as a handbook.
• An Orientation guide that suggests ways for health care managers to train infant feeding counselors on how to use these tools.

Source: UNICEF, WHO

Date of Publication: October 15, 2021