NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mentor Moms+: a community-led plan to cut alcohol use and HIV risk during pregnancy in South Africa

Official title: A community-based adaptation of a peer-led intervention to address alcohol use and HIV risk in pregnant women in South Africa (Mentor Moms+)

Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11612340 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A community-based program adapts a trusted peer-led model to help pregnant and lactating people reduce alcohol use and HIV risk in South Africa.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California Los Angeles
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, United States)
Project startSeptember 15, 2024
Project endAugust 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$99,112
NIH project number3R34AA030942-03S1
Project IDNIH-11612340 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Pregnant or lactating people in South Africa who use alcohol and are at risk for HIV, including those living with HIV and those not living with HIV.

Less likely to help

Pregnant or lactating people who do not use alcohol or who are not at risk for HIV may not benefit from this specific intervention.

What this research studies

This project adapts a proven mentor-mother approach to reach pregnant and lactating people who drink alcohol and are at risk for HIV. It uses community collaboration to identify what drives alcohol use in pregnancy and tailors support from experienced mothers to promote safer behaviors and better engagement with HIV prevention and treatment. The study will test feasibility by delivering an alcohol-reduction and HIV-prevention intervention within and outside antenatal clinics, with attention to local context and multi-stakeholder feedback. Researchers plan mixed-methods to understand acceptability, barriers, and facilitators before a larger trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve HIV prevention, ART/PrEP engagement, and maternal-child health during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

How similar studies have gone: The mentor-mother model has shown success in improving HIV and antenatal care outcomes in similar settings, supporting adaptation to this context.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Joseph Davey, Dvora Leah — University of California Los Angeles
  • Study coordinator: Joseph Davey, Dvora Leah

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.