This study evaluated the impact of mentor mother programs on PMTCT service uptake and retention at primary health care facilities in Nigeria. The study utilized the power of peer experience of HIV positive women who have successfully completed the PMTC process at least once, trained them to provide counseling and other support to PMTCT-naïve pregnant women and mothers.
This study evaluated the impact of mentor mother programs on PMTCT service uptake and retention at primary health care facilities in Nigeria. The study utilized the power of peer experience of HIV positive women who have successfully completed the PMTC process at least once, trained them to provide counseling and other support to PMTCT-naïve pregnant women and mothers. These positive pregnant women and mothers were guided through recruitment, counseling and community support in hard-to-reach communities. The study also trained mentors mothers. Comparison between mentor mother sites and non-mentor mother sites at the end of the study showed that, in terms of ANC attendance and hospital delivery for PLHIV, there was six fold improvement. Retention in care after delivery was over 35% for mentor mother sites. There was also about 30% improvement in Early Infant Diagnosis and three-fold increase in presentation for Early Infant Diagnosis.