AIM: To assess the quality of counselling provided to mothers through the programme to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in South Africa. METHODS: Structured observations of consultations and exit interviews with 60 mothers attending clinics at three purposively selected PMTCT sites across South Africa were conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-two counsellors were observed. The general quality of communication skills was very good, and 73% of HIV-negative mothers were informed of the advantages of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). However, only one of 34 HIV-positive mothers was informed about the possible side effects of nevirapine, and none was told what to do when it occurred. Only two HIV-positive mothers were asked about essential conditions for safe formula feeding before a decision about an infant feeding option was made. None of the 12 mothers choosing to breastfeed was shown how to position the baby correctly on the breast or asked whether they thought EBF was feasible. Fewer than a quarter of mothers expressed confidence in performing the actions required, and 85% could not define the term EBF. CONCLUSION: The poor quality of counselling in the PMTCT programme will reduce the effectiveness of these programmes. As they are being scaled up, there needs to be far more attention paid towards the counselling of mothers, especially with regards to optimal infant feeding.
AIM: To assess the quality of counselling provided to mothers through the programme to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in South Africa. METHODS: Structured observations of consultations and exit interviews with 60 mothers attending clinics at three purposively selected PMTCT sites across South Africa were conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-two counsellors were observed. The general quality of communication skills was very good, and 73% of HIV-negative mothers were informed of the advantages of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). However, only one of 34 HIV-positive mothers was informed about the possible side effects of nevirapine, and none was told what to do when it occurred. Only two HIV-positive mothers were asked about essential conditions for safe formula feeding before a decision about an infant feeding option was made. None of the 12 mothers choosing to breastfeed was shown how to position the baby correctly on the breast or asked whether they thought EBF was feasible. Fewer than a quarter of mothers expressed confidence in performing the actions required, and 85% could not define the term EBF. CONCLUSION: The poor quality of counselling in the PMTCT programme will reduce the effectiveness of these programmes. As they are being scaled up, there needs to be far more attention paid towards the counselling of mothers, especially with regards to optimal infant feeding.
Authors: Megan E Parker; Valerie L Flax; Martin Tembo; Ellen G Piwoz; Linda S Adair; Margaret E Bentley Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Yvonne Owens Ferguson; Eugenia Eng; Margaret Bentley; Margarete Sandelowski; Allan Steckler; Elizabeth Randall-David; Ellen G Piwoz; Cynthia Zulu; Charles Chasela; Alice Soko; Martin Tembo; Francis Martinson; Beth Carlton Tohill; Yusuf Ahmed; Peter Kazembe; Denise J Jamieson; Charles van der Horst; Linda Adair; Yusuf Ahmed; Mounir Ait-Khaled; Sandra Albrecht; Shrikant Bangdiwala; Ronald Bayer; Margaret Bentley; Brian Bramson; Emily Bobrow; Nicola Boyle; Sal Butera; Charles Chasela; Charity Chavula; Joseph Chimerang'ambe; Maggie Chigwenembe; Maria Chikasema; Norah Chikhungu; David Chilongozi; Grace Chiudzu; Lenesi Chome; Anne Cole; Amanda Corbett; Amy Corneli; Ann Duerr; Henry Eliya; Sascha Ellington; Joseph Eron; Sherry Farr; Yvonne Owens Ferguson; Susan Fiscus; Shannon Galvin; Laura Guay; Chad Heilig; Irving Hoffman; Elizabeth Hooten; Mina Hosseinipour; Michael Hudgens; Stacy Hurst; Lisa Hyde; Denise Jamieson; George Joaki; David Jones; Zebrone Kacheche; Esmie Kamanga; Gift Kamanga; Coxcilly Kampani; Portia Kamthunzi; Deborah Kamwendo; Cecilia Kanyama; Angela Kashuba; Damson Kathyola; Dumbani Kayira; Peter Kazembe; Rodney Knight; Athena Kourtis; Robert Krysiak; Jacob Kumwenda; Edde Loeliger; Misheck Luhanga; Victor Madhlopa; Maganizo Majawa; Alice Maida; Cheryl Marcus; Francis Martinson; Navdeep Thoofer; Chrissie Matika; Douglas Mayers; Isabel Mayuni; Marita McDonough; Joyce Meme; Ceppie Merry; Khama Mita; Chimwemwe Mkomawanthu; Gertrude Mndala; Ibrahim Mndala; Agnes Moses; Albans Msika; Wezi Msungama; Beatrice Mtimuni; Jane Muita; Noel Mumba; Bonface Musis; Charles Mwansambo; Gerald Mwapasa; Jacqueline Nkhoma; Richard Pendame; Ellen Piwoz; Byron Raines; Zane Ramdas; John Rublein; Mairin Ryan; Ian Sanne; Christopher Sellers; Diane Shugars; Dorothy Sichali; Wendy Snowden; Alice Soko; Allison Spensley; Jean-Marc Steens; Gerald Tegha; Martin Tembo; Roshan Thomas; Hsiao-Chuan Tien; Beth Tohill; Charles van der Horst; Esther Waalberg; Jeffrey Wiener; Cathy Wilfert; Patricia Wiyo; Onnocent Zgambo; Chifundo Zimba Journal: AIDS Educ Prev Date: 2009-04