Key findings from an evaluation of the mothers2mothers program in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

mothers2mothers (m2m) is a peer support program that aims to provide education and psychosocial support to HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers help women access existing health care services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and follow up with mothers and babies to ensure they receive appropriate medical care after delivery. While there has been much interest in innovative psychosocial support programs that complement PMTCT clinical services only a few such programs exist and there is very little data about their effectiveness. Although m2m is a well known program with anecdotal accounts of successfully supporting HIV-positive women the program had yet to undergo an external evaluation. The Horizons Program of Population Council in collaboration with Health Systems Trust completed the first evaluation of m2m as part of its introduction in KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa. (excerpt)