Programs
Global
The Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) Program addresses the overwhelming need to provide antenatal care and safe in-hospital delivery for pregnant mothers in sex work (MSW), given our 2019 study findings that maternal deaths account for nearly two-thirds of all causes of death among MSW. Many MSW who are pregnant cannot afford the associated costs of antenatal care and in-hospital delivery [registration, transportation (to antenatal care visits and to hospital for delivery), delivery pack/supplies (antiseptic, razor, cloth, etc.), childcare (for mother’s other children while mother is in hospital)]. Our pilot program seeks to facilitate safe deliveries for mothers and their newborns in collaboration with our local partners in Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya. Maternal Mental Health Services: Our research has documented that 98% of FSW who are mothers have a high probability of depression and 67% acknowledge suicidal thoughts in the past week, and many FSW who pregnant and have small children died by suicide. This is a preventable tragedy. As part of our MNCH program we are initiating maternal health support groups that will be facilitated by a trained counselor and other mental health services. The cost for this program is $500/month to provide support to 20 mothers.
Provision of mental health services to MSW is imperative, particularly those in the perinatal period (referring to both before and after childbirth). In collaboration with our local partners and subject matter experts, we are working to roll-out direct mental health interventions for those experiencing pre- and post-partum depression.
Due to the global food crisis and rising inflation, many moms struggle to feed themselves and their children, a primary driver of why many mothers enter sex work in the first place. Reliable access to food is particularly important for mothers who are pregnant, have young children, or have HIV/AIDS. Mothers with HIV/AIDS who do not have food cannot take their antiretroviral medications to treat their HIV/AIDS due to the overwhelming side effects of the drugs when taken in absence of food. Our program seeks to facilitate access to reliable and nutritious food and cooking supplies for mothers and their children in collaboration with our local partners.
Global Health Promise has identified education for children of FSW as a key component in preventing these children from being sexually exploited. We provide the funding to start the Early Childhood Development Center in Kampala, Uganda, during the pandemic when many children of FSW had not options for education. We continue to fund our local partner, Rhythm of Life (ROL), which operates the program in collaboration with a local school. In addition, we are funding young adolescent daughters of FSW to attend boarding schools in Kampala. This program protects these daughters from sexual exploitation and provides them with a quality education so they have better economic opportunities when they graduate.
The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Kampala, Uganda provides education, food, and a safe physical and emotional environment for the vulnerable children of mothers in sex work. This center, run by our partner organization, Rhythm of Life, is a crucial lifeline for these children by providing valuable resources that help them feel more connected to their community. Throughout our research, mothers in sex work continue to emphasize that education and childcare support for their children are their top priorities, along with finding alternative income sources, making this center an essential source of support for local mothers in sex work. The monthly cost to support a child in the ECD is $69.
The vast majority of mothers who support their children though sex work tell us they want alternative sources of income. In response we have started an economic empowerment program to help the mothers develop alternative sources of income. As one of our local partners stated “This is the ultimate harm reduction program: the moms will not be at risk of HIV or violence that often leads to their death, and will prevent hunger among their children.” We work with our local partners to develop a business plan for each mom to start a business that can fully sustain her and her children. The average cost to support a new business for a mom is $800.
Local
In Portland, Oregon, we have operated Our Mother’s House since 2007, a program for women who have been trafficked, who are in sex work and are pregnant, or who are mothers and their children. We help women to secure prenatal care, health services for their children, food, and clothing. Our objective is to empower and support women and their children in the Portland metro area, and to help create similar programs in other cities.
