Hidden Betrayals, Ignorance and Stigma Fuel Mother-to-Child HIV Infections in Kano State
Fiddaus and five other women struggled to brace themselves against the painful memories of betrayal that awaited them. Ultimately, Fiddaus broke down along with the others inside the Halliru Memorial Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative office in Kano State.
Over a decade ago, Fiddaus' husband infected her with HIV, keeping it a secret until after she gave birth to their third child, coinciding with his own immune system succumbing to the virus. He callously withheld the truth from her, and even her in-laws, who accompanied him to the hospital, conspired to keep her unaware, disregarding the health of the newborn.
Fighting back tears, Fiddaus recounted her journey of denial and eventual acceptance after testing positive for HIV at a hospital. Subsequent tests revealed that she had transmitted the virus to her third child, who now bears the burden of the disease.
After her husband's death six years ago, Fiddaus learned that her in-laws had kept his HIV status hidden to prevent her from miscarrying. However, such posthumous concern offered no solace. Left alone, Fiddaus now struggles to make ends meet through petty trading while shouldering all responsibilities, including the financial burden of feeding, medical expenses, rent, and school fees.
She has chosen to keep her son Ibrahim's HIV status a secret, although she takes precautions such as hiding sharp objects to ensure his safety. Fiddaus plans to disclose the truth to him when he is older.
Fiddaus' story is emblematic of the challenges faced by many in Kano State, where a proposed compulsory HIV testing bill for couples failed to materialize. With a low literacy rate, the state's population of 15.46 million carries a significant burden of HIV prevalence at 0.5 percent.
Several mothers caring for children living with HIV shared their experiences, highlighting the pervasive issues of ignorance, poverty, and cultural norms that contribute to the risks of HIV infection. Mother-to-child transmission remains the most common route of HIV infection among children, occurring during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS emphasizes that pregnant women with HIV should receive appropriate medication to minimize transmission risks, while facility delivery and antenatal care attendance are essential. However, statistics indicate poor utilization of healthcare facilities, with only 57 percent of pregnant women in Nigeria attending at least four antenatal care visits.
Moreover, the coverage of early infant diagnosis and access to HIV medicine for babies born to HIV-positive mothers remains inadequate. Nigeria currently has an estimated 170,000 children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV, with a significant number of new infections, deaths, and orphaned children due to AIDS.
Despite ongoing efforts by the government and stakeholders, there is a treatment gap, with only 31 percent of children aged 0 to 14 receiving antiretroviral therapy. Early infant diagnosis stands at a mere 15 percent.
Dr. Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organization Country Representative, highlighted Nigeria's heavy burden of tuberculosis and pediatric HIV, as well as its significant contribution to neglected tropical diseases in Africa during a conference addressing health security, universal health coverage, and the National Health Insurance Act.
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