Led by the Capacity Project, the Mothers’ Support Groups (MSG) program in Ethiopia has expanded to 78 sites.

MSGs are health center-based peer support groups for HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women. The Project’s success in implementing MSGs led to a joint government/NGO technical working group to facilitate replicating the program, and in late 2008 the Project brought MSGs to new sites in rural areas as part of the plan for expanding prevention of mother-to-child transmission. By December 2008, MSG had enrolled 2,672 women.

Among participants, approximately 90% of HIV-positive mothers and their babies receive antiretroviral prophylaxis; babies are far more likely to receive opportunistic infection prophylaxis; and rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months are high. In exit interviews, women graduating from MSG express a high level of appreciation for the program’s psychosocial support.

February 2009