Table 1 Description of the four phases of a peer support program

PHASE I: DEVELOP THE INTERVENTION

Step 1)

Establish the project aim

Step 2)

Recruit peer volunteers

Step 3)

Traini peer volunteers

Step 4)

Screen/accept peer volunteers

PHASE II: IMPLEMENT THE INTERVENTION

Step 5)

Recruit postpartum women to participate

Step 6)

Initiate contact between peer volunteers and postpartum women

Step 7)

Provide peer support

PHASE III: MAINTAIN THE INTERVENTION

Step 8)

Monitor the intervention initiation and implementation

Step 9)

Support the peer volunteers

Step 10)

Review participant safety and negative effects of the intervention

PHASE IV: EVALUATE THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM

Step 11)

Evaluation of the telephone support program by peer volunteers

Step 12)

Evaluation of the telephone support program by participants