SINCE 2020, WE HAVE

° Supported 1,500+ adolescent mother–baby pairs, addressing the needs of a population where 1 in 5 girls (20%).
° Established adolescent-friendly care in 20 health facilities, improving access to essential maternal services.
° 99.5% of children with normal Early Childhood Development,
° Achieved 99.5% of children reaching normal Early Childhood Development milestones

° Reduced sexual and gender-based violence from 28% (more than 1 in 4) at baseline to 3% (about 1 in 33) after months 48.

MEET FLORENCE

Florence is one of our Mama Ambassador Program beneficiaries.   
Listen to her story and how our counsellors and Mama Ambassadors have helped her to raise a healthy child.

THE JOURNEY OF PHBC’S BIRTH PREPAREDNESS ADVOCATES PROGRAM

In Tanzania, 1 in 5 adolescent girls (20%) begin childbearing before the age of 19. These young mothers face significantly higher risks of complications during pregnancy and childbirth one of the leading causes of death among girls aged 15 to 19 globally. At the outset of our program, nearly 1 in 3 adolescent mothers (33%) reported experiencing sexual and gender-based violence within a three-month period.

In 2020, PHBC launched the Birth Preparedness Advocates Program to improve the health and well-being of adolescent mothers and their babies in Tanzania.

Since its launch, the program has achieved measurable impact:

° Supported 1,500+ adolescent mother–baby pairs, addressing the needs of a population where 1 in 5 girls (20%) begin childbearing

° Established adolescent-friendly care in 20 health facilities, improving access to essential maternal and newborn services

° Achieved 99.5% of children reaching normal Early Childhood Development milestones

° Reduced sexual and gender-based violence from 28% (more than 1 in 4) at baseline to 3% (about 1 in 33) after 48 months

Through a strong network of trained health workers and Birth Preparedness Advocates, PHBC delivers structured peer-support groups that strengthen maternal mental health and promote positive parenting practices. Advocates are equipped with skills in adolescent-friendly reproductive, antenatal, and postnatal care, ensuring young mothers receive respectful, quality services.

At the core of the program is compassionate emotional support for adolescent mothers one of the most vulnerable groups in our communities. Through regular group sessions, mothers build confidence and skills in breastfeeding, nutrition, kangaroo mother care, early stimulation, and responsive care-giving.

The program also actively engages fathers and extended family members, recognizing their essential role in supporting young mothers. This inclusive approach has been key to the significant reduction in sexual and gender-based violence.

Looking ahead, PHBC aims to integrate its proven peer-support model into government-led Group Antenatal and Postnatal Care services, aligning community support with routine health visits. By linking these sessions with pediatric care, we ensure continuous support for both mother and child from pregnancy through the first three years of life.