mothers2mothers (m2m) recruits mothers living with HIV who have completed a pregnancy. These Mentor Mothers, serve as peer mentors and educators to HIV-positive pregnant women and HIV-positive women who have recently given birth.

Mentor Mothers are trained by m2m certified trainers using a rigorous training curriculum, and are then employed and paid as integral, valuable and professional members of the health care team. They serve a 13 month term, allowing a new group of Mentor Mothers to be hired, trained and empowered each year.

By design, m2m sites are co-located within medical care facilities already providing PMTCT services, and therefore m2m provides complimentary services within existing structures. When a woman arrives for her first antenatal visit, she is paired with a Mentor Mother. This Mentor Mother performs an assessment to determine what the client understands about HIV and its ramifications for her health, her child’s health, and her life, and all the factors that influence her living. If the client desires, her Mentor Mother will accompany her to her medical appointments and aid the woman in completing referral appointments. Additionally, the Mentor Mothers lead group meetings and support groups with all the participating women in the program, ensuring that women benefit from the support of others. The Mentor Mother also acts as an advocate on the labor wards, ensuring that treatment is provided during the birth process to prevent transmission.

mothers2mothers was developed in response to perceived medical and social needs to keep mothers in care after delivery. To address these factors, m2m also speaks to the postpartum woman’s questions and needs with regard to feeding, accessing family health care, and adjusting to life in the community as a woman and mother living with HIV.

Recognizing the importance of extending the program into the community, townships, and villages, m2m also utilizes the seasoned skills and talents of Mentor Mothers to provide community education and outreach on topics related to reproductive health, especially HIV/AIDS. Where required, Site Coordinators and Mentor Mothers travel to clients’ homes and/or invite family members to a mothers2mothers location in order to provide education and support to women who are disclosing their HIV status. In addition, m2m adapts to rural health care settings where women cannot travel to the nearest health care facility for ANC visits and/or delivery, playing an integral role in promoting ARV therapy adherence.