Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is associated with early child health; its longer-term benefits for child development remain inconclusive. We examine the associations between EBF, HIV exposure, and other maternal/child factors and the cognitive and emotional-behavioural development of children aged 7-11 y. The Vertical Transmission Study (VTS) supported EBF in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women; between 2012 and 2014, HIV-negative VTS children (332 HIV exposed, 574 HIV unexposed) were assessed in terms of cognition (Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children Second Edition KABC-II), executive function (Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment Second Edition NEPSY-II), and emotional-behavioural functioning (parent-reported Child Behaviour Checklist, CBCL).
Human Sciences Research Council (Sat,) studied this question.