Acceptability of mentor mother peer support for women living with HIV in North-Central Nigeria: a qualitative study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Hadiza S. Galadanci¹  Abayomi J. Afe²  Ebun Adejuyigbe³  Tongdiyen L. Jasper⁴  Nadia A. Sam-Agudu⁵  Maryam Al-Mujtaba⁶  Salome Erekaha⁷  Nguavese Torbunde⁸  Angela Odiachi⁹  Llewellyn J. Cornelius^1,10 

[1] Africa Center of Excellence for Population Health and Policy, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria;Department of Community Medicine, Equitable Health Access Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria;Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria;International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;Continuous Quality Improvement Unit, Learning and Development Department, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Unit, Prevention, Care and Treatment Department, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;Institute of Human Virology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA;International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;Present address: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, USA;International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;Present address: Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria;Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Unit, Prevention, Care and Treatment Department, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria;Present address: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Abuja, Nigeria;Research Consultant, Abuja, Nigeria;School of Social Work and College of Public Health, University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA;

关键词: Mentor mothers;    Expert mothers;    Peer support;    Counseling;    HIV;    PMTCT;    Nigeria;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-021-04002-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMentor mothers provide psychosocial and other support to pregnant and post-partum women living with HIV (WLHIV), which has been shown to enhance maternal-infant outcomes in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). Our objective was to assess the acceptability of mentor mothers as a PMTCT intervention, and to explore opinions on mentor mother program composition and delivery among stakeholders in North-Central Nigeria.MethodsWe conducted nine focus group discussions and 31 in-depth interviews with 118 participants, including WLHIV, pregnant women, male partners, health workers, traditional birth attendants, community leaders, PMTCT program implementers, and policymakers. Participants were purposively recruited from health facilities and surrounding communities in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State. Transcripts were manually analysed using a Grounded Theory approach, where theory was derived from the data collected.ResultsMost participants were female (n = 78, 67%), and married (n = 110, 94%). All participant groups found  mentor mothers acceptable as women providing care to pregnant and postpartum women, and as WLHIV supporting other WLHIV. Mentor mothers were uniquely relatable as role models for WLHIV because they were women, living with HIV, and had achieved an HIV-negative status for their HIV-exposed infants. Mentor mothers were recognized as playing major roles in maternal health education, HIV treatment initiation, adherence, and retention, HIV prevention for male partners and infants, and couple HIV disclosure. Most WLHIV preferred to receive mentor mothers’ services at health facilities rather than at home, due to concerns about HIV-related stigma and discrimination through association with mentor mothers. Key mentor mother needs were identified as training, remuneration, and validation as lay health workers.ConclusionsMentor mothers are an acceptable PMTCT intervention among stakeholders in North-Central Nigeria. However, stigma and discrimination for both mentor mothers and their clients remain a critical challenge, and mentor mother needs such as training, pay, and a sustainably supported niche in health systems require focused attention.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov registration number (NCT 01936753), registered on September 3, 2013 (retrospectively registered).

【 授权许可】

CC BY