Themes | Key results |
---|---|
Perceived benefits and acceptability of cMMs | • Advantage of having a woman directly in the community with recent PMTCT experience |
• Potential for HIV-related stigma reduction | |
• Female empowerment | |
• Reduction of healthcare providers’ workload | |
• Elimination of travel to clinic for certain services | |
Ideal role of cMMs and ideal aspects of cMM visit | • Target population: HIV-infected pregnant or postpartum women, extended groups (people at HIV risk) |
• Topics to be covered during the visits: PMTCT, reproductive health, tools to overcome fears related to living with HIV, child health, first aid, marital counseling, non-communicable diseases, TB, other | |
• Private visits, male partner involvement in at least part of the visit | |
• No universally convenient timing for the visits – to be adjusted to individual /community preferences | |
Ideal characteristics of cMMs | • HIV-infected and open about her HIV status |
• Good adherence to HIV treatment | |
• Familiar with community culture and beliefs | |
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality | |
• Middle-aged | |
• Knowledgeable and a good educator | |
• Good communication skills | |
• Friendly and engaging | |
Potential risks and barriers related to the cMM approach | • Breach of confidentiality |
• Inadvertent disclosure of HIV status | |
• Lack of private meeting places in clients’ homes | |
• Potential stigmatization and social isolation of cMMs in the communities |