1. Impact of mentor mothers on the
adherence to HAART among HIV positive
mothers initiated on option B plus in Embu and
Chuka Hospitals
Authors: Rosemary Njogu ,Stephen Mutwiwa
Authors Affiliation: Jhpiego Kenya, an Affiliate of
John Hopkins University.

2. Outline of the Presentation
• Background
• Objective
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion
• Recommendations
• Acknowledgement

3. Background
• In 2012 86,000 women required ARV treatment to
prevent vertical transmission.
• without intervention up to 40% of their infants
would be infected with HIV virus.
• Training the mothers(mentor mothers) who have
undergone PMTCT program to support HIV
positive pregnant mothers at first contact to the
hospital.
• The mentor mothers offer peer education to HIV
positive women.

4. Objective
• To establish the impact of mentor mothers
on the adherence to HAART by HIV
positive mothers initiated on option B plus at
MCH.

5. Methods
• Retrospective desk review of MOH 405 data and
clients files for the period of June-Dec 2013 at
Embu PGH and Chuka DH was done.
• FGD with the HIV positive client’s during
psychosocial support group meetings.

6. Results
• During the June-Dec 2013 period, 92 positive
mothers were identified HIV positive.
• 91(98%) HIV positive pregnant mothers were
put on option B plus at first contact.
• 91 clients were in contact with MM and
supported by the mentor mothers to adhere to
treatment.
• 100% of the clients are active on care and
treatment and enrolled in the psychosocial
support group at MCH

7. Results
• within the period the 2 sites had mentor mothers
partner testing has increased by 60% compared
to the same period without mentor mothers.
• In the focused group discussion during PSSG
meeting, -;
-clients reported having reduced infections after
starting treatment.
-clients collected drugs without fear (reduced
stigma)

8. Conclusion
• Involving mentor mothers and integration of
services for HIV positive mothers will highly
contribute to achieving EMTCT.
• Starting ARVS to HIV positive pregnant
mothers early will significantly reduce vertical
transmission

9. Recommendations
• Mentor mothers to be supported by the MOH in
all high volume sites
• Follow up of the mothers on option B to term
to check the outcome of the infants.

10. Acknowledgement
• MOH
• USAID
• Mentor mothers in EPGH and Chuka DH