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MOTHER-TO-BE PROGRAMME
Underweight in the womb
Philani's analysis of data has demonstrated that more than 50 per cent of malnourished children enrolled on our Outreach programme were underweight for age from birth. International models have shown that support for mothers during pregnancy and intervention during children's early years, have a positive effect on growth, health, child abuse and other family parameters.
HIV in pregnancy
In Philani's target communities the prevalence of HIV-positive pregnant women increased from 9 per cent in 1998 to 24 per cent in 2003 and 30 per cent in 2005, a frightening development. Up to 10 per cent of HIV-positive women infect their children, despite an effective mother-to-child transmission prevention programme in the Western Cape.
Starting the programme
Recognising these facts led to the implementation in 2006 of Philani's Mothers-to-be programme, as part of the Philani Outreach programme. Antenatal intervention aims to preclude, as far as possible, the problem of mother-to-child HIV transmission, through counselling and encouraging women to elect to test for HIV. Since late 2006, Philani has employed a dedicated nursing sister to give mothers-to-be training to Outreach workers, to enable them to conduct comprehensive house-to-house visits throughout the communities in which they work, identifying and supporting pregnant women. This home-based support to antenatal care offered in government clinics is enormously valued: 95 per cent of women respond positively to Philani's Outreach workers' contact and care.
Philani and UCLA
Coming soon...
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