AEGiS-14IAC: Mothers-to-mothers-to-be: peer counseling, education and support for women in pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Mothers-to-mothers-to-be: peer counseling, education and support for women in pregnancy in Cape Town, South Africa.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. MoOrF1031)

Besser MJ
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

ISSUES: Women diagnosed with HIV infection during pregnancy need education, counselling and support. Education improves adherence to antiretroviral treatment regimens and feeding practices. Counselling and support improves quality of life. Most women, when diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy, are unable or unwilling to tell partner, family or friends resulting in emotional isolation. In Cape Town, South Africa's publicly-funded mother to child transmission prevention (PMTCT) programs education and counselling is limited to before and after HIV testing. Programs lack capacity to provide on-going education and support.

DESCRIPTION: Mothers-to-Mothers-to-Be (M2M2B) is a mentorship program for HIV infected pregnant women. Recently delivered HIV infected mothers return to antenatal clinic as mentors to educate, counsel and support HIV infected pregnant women. At every antenatal clinic visit, pregnant women are engaged by mentor-mothers who are able to share personal experiences, encourage adherence to treatment plans, assist with negotiating the hospital. Mentor-mothers also receive continued education and support. Mentor-mothers are given a small stipend for their service. The first M2M2B program was started at a tertiary care hospital. M2M2B programs are scheduled to open at several primary care maternity centers in South Africa.

ISSUES: Peer support mentorship programs fit seemlessly into routine antenatal care. Pregnant women enrolling in M2M2B have a better understanding and greater acceptance of interventions to reduce vertical transmission. They are better able to participate in decision-making with respect to mode of delivery, use of anti-retroviral agents to reduce transmission and feeding method. Knowledgeable pregnant women and mothers are empowered in their respective families and communities. Empowerment contributes to destigmatization of HIV infection and community health.

RECOMMENDATIONS: M2M2B programs should be part of all PMTCT programs.

Keywords: AEGIS, Disease Transmission, Vertical, Counseling, Mothers, HIV Infections, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Teaching, HIV Seropositivity, Delivery, Obstetric, Health Education, South Africa, Pregnancy Outcome, Pregnancy, Pregnant Women, Human, Adult, Female, Child, education, transmission, surgery

020707
MoOrF1031