Home health visitors show promise for moms and kids in rural south africa

NCT ID NCT03517878

First seen Jan 08, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 18 times

Summary

This study tested whether trained community health workers visiting pregnant women at home could improve health for both mothers and children in a rural area of South Africa. The program focused on supporting women with HIV, depression, or alcohol use, and on improving child growth and development. Researchers compared 1,490 women in areas with the program to those without, tracking outcomes like breastfeeding, HIV treatment, and child weight for one year after birth.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Stellenbosch University

    Stellenbosch, South Africa

  • Zithulele Hospital

    Mqanduli, Eastern Cape, 5080, South Africa

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

community health worker home visits

What this could lead to

If successful, this program could offer a low-cost way to improve health for mothers and children in rural areas, especially for HIV, depression, and malnutrition.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase, non-randomized study with a small number of areas, so results may not apply broadly. The intervention is complex and depends on local community workers.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

AIDS alcohol abuse Alcohol Drinking Breast Feeding Child Nutrition Disorders Depression hereditary endocrine growth disease HIV infectious disease nutritional deficiency disease nutritional disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.