Mamekhaya

A pilot study combining a cognitive-behavioral intervention and mentor mothers with PMTCT services in South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID19438622
AuthorsDonna Futterman (0000-0002-3434-1095, a Adolescent AIDS Program, Montefiore Medical Center , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA, corresponding author), Jawaya Shea (University of Cape Town), Mitchell Besser (c Mothers2Mothers Program , Cape Town , South Africa), Stephen Stafford (a Adolescent AIDS Program, Montefiore Medical Center , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA), Katherine A Desmond (University of California, Los Angeles), Katherine Desmond (d Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA), W Scott Comulada (0000-0002-1340-6371, d Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA), Erin Greco (d Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA)
Year2010
Volume22
Issue9
Pages1093-1100
Publication date2010-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121003600352
PMID20824562
PMCIDPMC4019405
OpenAlexW2050150327
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited7

Nearly 30% of pregnant women in South Africa are estimated to be HIV seropositive, yet adherence to guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) is often low. A pilot study was developed to see whether PMTCT services provided by the South African Government could be enhanced by the Mamekhaya program, a combination of the mothers2mothers peer-mentoring program and a culturally adapted cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI) from the USA. Pregnant women attending two maternity clinics offering PMTCT in Gugulethu and Vanguard Townships, Cape Town, South Africa, were invited to participate in the study. Women at the intervention site (Gugulethu) received the support of a mentor mother and also attended an eight-session Mamekhaya CBI. At the control site (Vanguard), women received standard services provided by midwives and counselors. Baseline assessments were completed by all participants at enrollment (n=160), and follow-ups were completed six months later by 44% of participants. Self-reports of adherence to PMTCT practices were high across both sites (90% or more engaging in the core practices). Women at the Mamekhaya site showed significantly greater improvement in establishing social support and reducing depression scores than women at the control site. Mamekhaya participants also showed trends for better attendance at follow-up medical visits, and greater improvements in positive coping. The greatest effect of the Mamekhaya program was to increase HIV knowledge scores, particularly with regard to understanding the meaning and importance of viral load and CD4 test results. Results from this pilot study show promise that augmenting basic PMTCT services with mentor mothers and a culturally adapted CBI can be effective in conveying information and in improving the emotional outlook and hopefulness of HIV-positive pregnant women in South Africa

Attendance · Family medicine · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Nursing