Mother-to-Mother Support Groups: Trainer's Maual and Facilitator’s Manual with Discussion Guide

This guide was developed at the request of mother-to-mother support group facilitators in Western Kenya. It is meant to provide more detailed background information on possible support group topics for facilitators to use to prepare for meetings, or to do research if mothers have questions that facilitators do not know the answers to.

The sample sessions in this guide are not meant to be presented as “health talks” during support group meetings. Support group meetings are successful when the facilitator raises a topic and then asks questions to prompt discussion among the members. Using this discussion guide as the basis for a lecture would discourage group members from expressing their own ideas and sharing their strategies for implementing optimal infant and young child nutrition practices. The sample sessions can be read beforehand to help a facilitator feel better prepared for her support group meeting.