Strategic Areas

Job Aids on HIV and Infant Feeding

Counseling Cards

The counseling cards are intended for health workers to use during sessions with HIV-positive prenatal and postpartum women. Published in English and Swahili, the cards are tools that health workers can use to explain: the risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child when no preventive actions are taken; infant feeding options for HIV-positive mothers; the concept of acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe (AFASS) replacement feeding; and how to safely practice their chosen infant feeding method.

The materials may be downloaded as Adobe Acrobat PDF files. (To download Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here or on the Acrobat Reader icon below).

Counseling Cards


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	Risk of Passing HIV from Mother to Baby Using this counseling card as a guide, the health worker can show the client a graphic depiction of the risk of passing HIV from HIV-positive women to their babies when NO preventive actions are taken. The card shows that most babies are infected with HIV during pregnancy and birth (approximately 20%). It also depicts the rate of babies who become infected with HIV through breastfeeding (approximately 15%) The health worker can use the card to illustrate that the majority of babies (approximately 65%) are not infected with HIV, but should be protected through the use of ARVs and safer infant feeding.

	Download English	Download in Swahili


	Infant Feeding Options This counseling card is intended to assist healthcare providers counsel women who have tested HIV-positive. It offers graphic depictions of three of the most common methods being actively promoted for feeding infants of HIV-positive women in Tanzania so that the healthcare worker can guide the mother in determining the safest option for feeding her baby.
	Download English		Download Swahili


	Infant Formula or Modified Cow's Milk as a Safe Option This counseling card is directed to women who have tested HIV-positive and who are exploring their infant feeding options.This graphic job aid enables counselors to discuss whether using infant formula or modified cow’s milk presents a safe and secure alternative to breastfeeding, following AFASS criteria.

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	Risk of HIV passing from mother to baby if mother and baby take Nevirapine Using this counseling card as a guide, the health worker can show the client that the risk of mother passing HIV to baby decreases the mother practices exclusive breastfeeding and mother and baby take Nevirapine
	Download English		Download Swahili

	How to Breastfeed This job aid is intended to assist the counselor to give clear instructions to pregnant women on how to breastfeed. Illustrated, step-by-step instructions are presented to promote good positioning of the baby to prevent breast problems which can increase the transition of HIV through breastfeeding.
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	How to Hand Express Breast Milk This counseling card graphically depicts the steps for the mother to follow to hand express breast milk, an important skill for all mothers to have, no matter what their status. It encourages the use of a cup rather than a bottle for feeding the baby.

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	Many Ways to Position and Attach Baby Using this counseling card as a guide, the healthcare worker can show the mother a range of ways to position and attach the baby.
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	During the first 6 months, baby needs only breast milk This card illustrates that during the first six months, the baby should be given only breast milk.The mother should avoid giving water, glucose water, and all other foods and drinks.
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	Danger Signs Danger signs indicating that the baby should be immediately taken to the nearest health facility are illustrated.
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