NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Peer mentor support to reduce drinking 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-11192895 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project offers a peer-mentor program to help pregnant and breastfeeding people who drink alcohol reduce drinking and stay connected to HIV prevention or treatment services in South Africa.

More Alcohol Use research and trials

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 year2025
Award (this year)$80,147
NIH project number5R34AA030942-02
Project IDNIH-11192895 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Pregnant or breastfeeding people in the target South African communities who currently use alcohol and are living with HIV or at risk of HIV are the ideal candidates.

Less likely to help

People who do not live in the study communities, who do not use alcohol, or whose care needs are unrelated to HIV or alcohol use are unlikely to benefit directly.

What this research studies

You would be connected with a trained "mentor mother" from the community who provides practical support and counseling to help reduce alcohol use and link you to HIV prevention or treatment services. Researchers will talk with pregnant and breastfeeding people, clinic staff, and community members to learn what barriers and supports matter most and adapt the mentor-mother model accordingly. The adapted program, called Mentor Moms+, will be delivered in clinics and community settings and the team will track whether it is acceptable, feasible, and practical to run. The focus is serostatus-neutral, meaning it supports both people living with HIV (to stay on ART) and people without HIV (to access PrEP) while addressing alcohol use.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help pregnant and breastfeeding people cut down on alcohol use and improve HIV prevention and treatment, lowering health risks for both mothers and babies.

How similar studies have gone: Mentor-mother peer programs have previously improved HIV care and antenatal outcomes, but adapting them specifically to reduce alcohol use during pregnancy is a newer approach that requires testing.

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.