Final answer:
It is true that HIV can be passed from mother to child via breast milk, with about a 15% chance of transmission if the mother is infected and not treated. This vertical transmission is a significant cause of HIV in children, but can be significantly reduced with preventive measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that HIV can be passed from mother to child via breast milk is true. HIV is transmitted through direct contact with body fluids such as blood, semen, and breast milk. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
If the mother is infected with HIV, there is approximately a 15% chance of the virus being transmitted to her infant through her breast milk. This form of transmission is known as vertical transmission, and it is responsible for the majority of HIV infections in children. However, the rates of mother-to-child transmission can be greatly reduced by employing various prevention strategies, such as antiretroviral medications during pregnancy and to the infant after birth, cesarean delivery, and substituting breastfeeding with bottle feeding if possible.