A Randomized Controlled Trial of Women Involved in Supporting Health (WISH), a Peer-Led Intervention to Improve Postpartum Retention in HIV Care

The purpose of the study is to learn more about programs that can improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies during the period after delivery. Women living with HIV experience diverse health problems in the period directly after delivery. These problems are related to poor medical visit attendance after they have had their baby and the fact that many stop taking their HIV medications. This can increase the risk of the HIV virus becoming resistant. Presently, there are no known programs in the United States to improve the wellbeing of women with HIV during pregnancy and in the period directly after delivery. In sub-Saharan Africa, where programs to help mothers stay in care have been implemented, the use of peers has resulted in significantly higher numbers of mothers staying in care and having their virus under control. Peers are women living with HIV who remained engaged in HIV care after delivery, and provide education and support to women in the periods during pregnancy and after delivery. We are conducting this study to test the benefits of a program led by peer facilitators, Women Involved in Supporting Health (WISH), which is designed to increase the ability, the skills and social support necessary in order to stay in care and keep the virus under control after delivery. The impact of this study will be the development of the first program in the United States led by peer facilitators to address the pressing need to improve the numbers of mothers staying in HIV care and keeping the virus under control.