Recovery in bone mineral density (BMD) following recent repeat pregnancy and breastfeeding among African women with and without HIV
Authors' conclusion
Both WLWH-P and HIV-neg-P women showed BMD recovery to baseline for FN, LS, and TH by 30-36 mo postpartum. However, mean BMD standard-scores trended lower throughout follow-up for WLWH-P compared to HIV-neg-P women. WLWH-P and WLWH-NP women had similar BMD standardized scores by 30-36 mo.
Study context
- Population
- Women in Malawi and Uganda; median age Women Living with HIV (WLWH) 33 yr, HIV-neg-P 32 yr; 91.4% of WLWH-P and 87.9% of WLWH-NP on Tenofovir-ART
- Participants
- 104 / 109 / 99
- Exposure
- Recently pregnant WLWH vs recently pregnant HIV-negative women and vs non-pregnant WLWH
- WLWH-Pn = 104
- HIV-neg-Pn = 109reference
- WLWH-NPn = 99reference
- Outcome
- Standardized BMD (FN, LS, TH) by DXA, compared with linear mixed models
- Follow-up
- Baseline, 12, 24 and 30-36 mo
Methodological detailsmatched for age-group/parity, multinational (Malawi and Uganda)
- Matched for age-group/parity
- Multinational (Malawi and Uganda)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Standardized BMD, WLWH-P vs HIV-neg-P · baseline, 12, 24 and 30-36 mo postpartum
- WLWH-P had lower mean standardized BMD for FN, LS and TH vs HIV-neg-P; differences not statistically significant except baseline TH
- Both WLWH-P and HIV-neg-P showed BMD recovery to baseline for FN, LS and TH by 30-36 mo postpartum
- WLWH-P vs WLWH-NP: mean standardized BMD trended lower between baseline and 24 mo; similar scores by 30-36 mo
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Recovery in BMD following recent repeat pregnancy and breastfeeding among African women with and without HIV. J Bone Miner Res. Published 16 March 2026. doi:10.
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