Background
SECONDARY
The World Health Organization issued recommendations for prevention of mother-to-child- transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in 2000 [Kenya was one of the 22 global plan priority countries where, despite impressive gains, mother-to-child transmission remained stubbornly high some years after the 2011 global plan and the 2014 policy switch to immediate initiation of life-long antiretroviral therapy (ART) for pregnant and breastfeeding women upon an HIV diagnosis [While PMTCT involves a package of multiple services, rapid initiation of life-long ART for all WLWH, both pregnant and not yet pregnant, has been a key component of PMTCT services since the 2016 guidelines in Kenya [Existing literature has documented a range of typical problems implementing PMTCT services, including late presentation for prenatal care and the lack of retention and/or inconsistent visits before and after delivery [Against this backdrop, the Enhanced Mentor Mother progrAm (EMMA) study was
designed to evaluate whether
modest revisions to standard services provided by peer counselors (called Mentor
Mothers) at maternal and child health (MCH) clinics could improve retention
along the PMTCT cascade of care. We
report here results for primary and
secondary outcomes.