Table 3.
Results of structured interviews with peer counsellors (N = 17)
| Question | Theme identified/comprehension score | N |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of what the project is about* | Limited understanding | 2 |
| Some understanding | 6 | |
| Moderate understanding | 8 | |
| High level understanding | 1 | |
| Understanding of peer counsellors’ role in project* | Limited understanding | 5 |
| Some understanding | 6 | |
| Moderate understanding | 3 | |
| High level understanding | 3 | |
| Satisfied with job | Yes | 17 |
| No | 0 | |
| Number of daily visits performed | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 11 | |
| 3 | 2 | |
| Perceived workload | I don’t have much (light) | 9 |
| Average medium | 6 | |
| No mention | 2 | |
| Happy with training they received | Yes | 17 |
| No | 0 | |
| Wants further training | Yes | 13 |
| No | 4 | |
| Felt they were able to deal with problems | Yes | 2 |
| Mostly | 15 | |
| No | 0 | |
| Steps taken when peer counsellors unsure of how to deal with problems | Discuss with supervisor | 16 |
| No issues yet | 1 | |
| Specific aspects of training that they found useful** | Benefits of colostrum | 7 |
| Benefits and difficulties of exclusive breastfeeding | 7 | |
| Assisting with position and attachment | 7 | |
| Nutritious food for mother and child | 3 | |
| Iron tablets | 3 | |
| Antenatal care | 2 | |
| Disadvantages of formula feeding | 2 | |
| Procedure for complementary feeding | 1 | |
| Proper meal for age | 1 | |
| What affects your ability to perform your job?** | Interruptions (phone rings, neighbours, older children interrupting during visits | 7 |
| Mothers are too busy | 6 | |
| Mothers are kept quiet by in-laws | 3 | |
| Mothers not concentrating | 2 | |
| Mothers unhappy with messages | 2 | |
| Can’t make it to the birth within 3 days | 1 | |
| Limited by only giving nutrition information | 1 | |
| Peer counsellor very busy | 1 | |
| Child crying | 1 | |
| Mothers not home | 1 | |
| Do peer counsellors see mothers outside visits | Yes | 17 |
| Peer counsellors developed a close friendship with mothers | Yes | 17 |
| How do you deal with obstacles within the mothers family during the peer counselling session** | Try and motivate family members | 16 |
| Enlist assistance from supervising peer counsellor | 4 | |
| Try and correct misconceptions | 1 | |
| Peer counsellors happy with incentives given | Yes | 5 |
| Would appreciate an increment in salary | 11 | |
| No | 1 |
*see Table 1 for explanation of how coding was developed **questions presented as open-ended, number represents the number of peer counsellor who raised this issue