Matuzo Bora Ya Watoto Wachanga: Good Care for Babies

Innovators are testing whether a mental health intervention for mothers who are victims of sexual violence has a significant and positive effect on brain development of their infants. The intervention will be delivered as part of a post-natal health program, using a delivery system that can be duplicated in similar low-resource environments. This project is the first intervention study designed specifically to improve on cognitive, emotional, motor and linguistic development of infants by providing mental health services to mothers experiencing major depression and traumatic stress who are victims of sexual violence and rape. To test its effect, 10 community health workers will be trained to deliver the post-natal health and nutrition program with a treatment intervention for depression to 200 women and their infants.