{ "abstract": "Mentor Mother (MM) services are an evidenced-based peer support strategy embedded within prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs. The current MM strategy in Kenya provides monthly, facility-based, one-size-fits-all antiretroviral therapy adherence counselling and health education to women living with HIV (WLHIV) who are navigating PMTCT services. MMs receive a small monthly stipend as compensation for providing these services. We aimed to gather formative information from MMs and their client WLHIV, with the goal of developing an enhanced MM strategy that accounts for the unique needs of each WLHIV. From April-July 2023, we conducted qualitative interviews with MMs (n = 16) and WLHIV (n = 36) from three public health facilities supported by Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) in western Kenya. Interviews and analysis were guided by the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM). Key findings included that both MMs and client WLHIV had favorable opinions about the possibility of developing and implementing a risk-stratified MM strategy wherein client WLHIV with identifiable risk factors receive intensified, problem-focused services while low-risk WLHIV are eligible for less intensive services. MMs and client WLHIV also agreed that empathetic MM-client relationships that leverage shared lived experiences to build trust and address stigma should remain central to the MM program. However, MMs were clear that a better-defined scope of work and capacity building through training and skills development would be necessary for successful implementation of an enhanced MM strategy. Additionally, motivating MMs with fair compensation and recognition for their work, as well as providing more resources for client WLHIV with economic barriers to care, could promote adoption and sustainability of an enhanced MM strategy. Additional participatory research, as well as input from system-level stakeholders, is needed to ensure feasible enhancements to MM services are contextualized within the real-world constraints of PMTCT programs.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America", "Department of Reproductive Health, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya", "Department of Sociology, Psychology and Anthropology, Moi University School of Arts and Social Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya", "Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya", "Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America", "Research Jam, Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America", "Department of Reproductive Health, Moi University College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya", "Department of Psychology, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America", "Health Services Research and Development, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans' Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 9, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "James G. Carlucci" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Rosa Chemwey Ndiema" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Violet Naanyu" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Marylydia Atieno Kiano" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "John M. Humphrey" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Bridget Hawryluk" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Edwin Were" }, { "affs": [ 7 ], "name": "Alan McGuire" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Kara Wools-Kaloustian" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4m6ma5abfcgpc.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007277", "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007277", "id": "4m6ma5abfcgpc", "issns": [ "2767-3375" ], "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007277", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2725|HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/RNA viruses/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Diagnostic medicine/HIV diagnosis and management" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Health care facilities" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Health economics" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Socioeconomic aspects of health" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Socioeconomic aspects of health" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Pregnancy" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Pregnancy" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Kenya" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Population groupings/Age groups/Children/Infants" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Population groupings/Families/Children/Infants" ], [ "plos", "/Social sciences/Economics/Health economics" ] ], "openalex": "W7213552693", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007277&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-18", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4m6ma5abfcgpc.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007277", "source": "plos", "url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007277" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "biology", "origin": "plos:microbiology", "subfield": "microbiology" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:public and occupational health", "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:women's health", "subfield": "reproductive-child" } ], "title": "Perspectives on enhancing peer support services for mothers living with HIV in Kenya: A qualitative assessment of Mentor Mothers and the mothers they serve", "title_text": "Perspectives on enhancing peer support services for mothers living with HIV in Kenya: A qualitative assessment of Mentor Mothers and the mothers they serve", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4m6ma5abfcgpc", "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health", "versions": [] }