Phase 1: 2003 /2004 - an exploratory, anthropological research first phase which focused primarily on pregnant women and mothers with infants of up to one-year-old, in 11 sites: eight in South Africa, one in Swaziland and two in Namibia. The purpose was to explore infant feeding practices in communities most at risk through poverty and HIV in Southern Africa in the context of customs, thoughts, tradition and the emotions they evoke, the circumstances that influence them, and the counselling strategies that might affect them. Overall, the study revealed that mothers’ and counsellors’ understandings of the encounter differed greatly in terms of perceived purpose, benefits, risks and nutritional logic. Mothers expressed ambivalence about the expected behaviour changes and found the communication with counsellors often lacking in understanding, respect and trust

Phase 2: 2005/2006: - the current action-research, focusing primarily on training and supporting the counsellors in 4 sites in the same 3 countries. It was designed as a response to the findings of Phase 1 This phase is testing alternative methodologies and approaches including a new counseling format, within a double-layered training / learning process with HIV counsellors in the PMTCT programmes, in 4 sites, in these same 3 countries. After initial trainings, Action Researchers (AR’s) facilitated the counsellor's learning within Appreciative Inquiry groups at each site, while they themselves were learning to be trainers of counsellors in these approaches. The main purpose of this methodology is to understand the processes of (behaviour) change involved for mothers (and their families and communities), counsellors (and their colleagues and supervisors) and counsellor-trainers (the action researchers).

Phase 3: a proposed implementation phase to deepen our research, extend our training beyond the pilot sites, and consolidate our theory. We expect it to be designed by March 2006.