Introduction: Mother-to-child transmission is the largest source of HIV infection in children.rnAbout one third of children infected are believed to be vertically during breast-feeding. Infantrnfeeding in the context of HIV is complex. HIV positive women are confused about feedingrnmethods and mixed feeding continued to be widespread. However, there is little literature on thernpractice of HIV positive mothers and counseling message of health workers in Ethiopia.rnObjective: The objective of this study was to assess magnitude and factors associated with infantrnand young child feeding practice of HIV positive mothers in selected hospitals, Southern NationsrnNationalities and Peoples of Region, 2011.rnMethods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted using both quantitative andrnqualitative methods. A total of 201 HIV positive mothers with children less than two years of agernwere selected at morning time in order of arrival. Health workers working on anti -retroviralrntherapy and prevention of mother to child transmission clinics were taken for in-depth interviewrnin Hawassa, Yirgalem and Dilla Hospitals.rnResult: A sample of 183 HIV positive mothers participated in the study making the response raternof 91%. Of all respondent, 87(47.5%) HIV positive mothers had children with the age of lessrnthan 6 months, among 87(47.5%) HIV positive mothers, 56.3% had experience of exclusivernbreast feeding, 35.6% mixed feeding and 8.1% exclusive replacement feeding. Regarding issuesrndiscussed during counseling time by health workers, from total of 183 HIV positive mothers,rn78.7% mothers received counseling on different feeding options. Most, 96.2% and 76.0% ofrnmothers received counseling on advantages & disadvantages of breast feeding respectively, andrn67.8% and71% disadvantages of replacement and mixed feeding respectively. Motherâ€˜s who hadrnantenatal follow up and favorable attitude towards feeding options were more likely to practicernexclusive breast feeding and less likely to practice mixed feeding. rnConclusions and Recommendations: more than half of mothers practiced exclusive breastrnfeeding and very small proportion of HIV positive mothers chose replacement feeding, but stillrngreater than one third of HIV positive mothers practiced mixed feeding. In general, infant andrnyoung child feeding practices observed in this study fall sort of the WHO recommendations, so itrnis recommended that all HIV positive mothers should be provided with adequate information tornenable them to select the best feeding option for their babies, and to successfully carry out theirrninfant feeding decisions.