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MEDIA CENTER Population Council Study: Pivotal Program in South
Africa Helps Moms Living with HIV Safeguard Their Own and Their Baby’s
Health NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, DC (19 June 2007) — A new study by the Population Council’s Horizons program provides evidence that clients of mothers2mothers—which offers psychosocial support for pregnant South African women and new mothers living with HIV—are more likely than non-clients to:
Pregnant clients were significantly more likely to report a positive outlook and to feel they could do things to help themselves and cope with caring for their babies. Postpartum participants said that they were significantly less likely to feel alone in the world, overwhelmed by problems, or hopeless about the future. In the United States, perinatally transmitted AIDS cases have decreased dramatically because of antiretroviral therapy administered during pregnancy and labor. But in South Africa there are obstacles to reaching women with health services. Providers are overburdened and have difficulty following up with women both during pregnancy and after delivery. Women have trouble adhering to medical recommendations because of cultural norms and values, and stigma associated with the disease. Although programs to prevent mother-to-child transmission have grown in recent years, the Population Council study emphasizes the need for education and emotional support to supplement medical interventions. mothers2mothers meets those needs by employing new mothers living with HIV as “Mentor Mothers.” These peer educators are trained to provide a caring environment where mothers feel safe in sharing their fears surrounding their HIV status, and feel empowered to take steps to protect their own and their baby’s health. Senator Joseph Biden (D, Delaware) and Senator Richard Lugar (R, Indiana) are co-hosting an event on Wednesday, 27 June, 2:00–3:00 pm, to share the lessons learned from this important study and to give attendees the opportunity to hear from one of mothers2mothers’ mentors about the challenges of coping with pregnancy and HIV in South Africa. It will take place in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Foreign Relations Hearing, Room 419 (1st & Constitution Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20510). The study was supported by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). About the Population Council About mothers2mothers ### Media contacts Population Council See Also
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