Ashley
BY NYARADZO CHITUNGO
For 15-year-old Ashley from Kadoma, the consequences of being married off to her late aunt’s 45-year-old husband have been devastating.
While her peers enjoy carefree days in school, she is nursing her second child. Ashley’s life took a dramatic turn when she learned that she was HIV positive during an antenatal visit.
Ashley’s parents believed that marrying her off would secure their financial future, as both were unemployed. However, in their desperation, they didn’t consider the potential risks, HIV infection included.
“I felt like the world was spinning when the nurse delivered the news to me ,” Ashley said, with tears flowing from her eyes.
“I tested HIV negative when I gave birth to my first child, and finding out that I was now positive was devastating.”
Many girls like Ashley are embarrassed or intimidated and uninformed, leaving them exposed to sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
“I found out he was having an affair with a married woman when I was in my second trimester,” she revealed.
“I suggested to him if we can use condoms but my plea fell on deaf ears,” she narrated.
Child marriages and HIV risks
Research has shown linkages between HIV and child marriages. Girls like Ashley who are married off at a young age are particularly vulnerable to HIV transmission.
Their older husbands who may have had multiple partners are more likely to be HIV positive.
According to Clark etal’s Early Marriage and HIV Risk In Sub-Saharan Africa(2004): “early marriages increases coital frequency, decreases condom use and virtually eliminates girls ability to abstain from sex.”
It further states that “husbands of married girls were three times more likely to be HIV positive compared to boyfriends of single girls.
“Although married girls are less likely than single girls to have multiple partners, this protective behaviour may be outweighed by their greater exposure via unprotected sex with partners who have higher risk of infection.”
Vimbai Chenjera, a Community Health Worker echoes the same sentiments.
“Girls in child marriages often lack the power to protect themselves from HIV and other STIs, putting them at high risk of infection.
“Cultural, social and religious belief systems force the girl child into early marriages which is an outright and totally unacceptable infringement of their rights.”
“These kind of forced or arranged marriages, which are in reality veiled cases of rape, expose them to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV as most or all their husbands might have engaged in unprotected sex with multiple partners,” she said.
Tatenda Chihava, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) advocate
Tatenda Chihava, a Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) advocate stressed that due to the fact that young girls lack information or are ill-informed with regards to reproductive health, they are exposed to all sorts of sexually transmitted diseases and even fall pregnant while still breastfeeding.
Ashley’s case, which is just one amongst a myriad of others, resonates with Chihava’s words.
“I have been treated for multiple sexually transmitted infections since getting married. At first, I thought it was just a reaction to the sanitary pads I was using, but later discovered it was an STI. “To make matters worse, I found out I was five weeks pregnant while still breastfeeding my 9 month old baby,” she narrated.
Empowerment as a gateway to freedom
Chihava mentioned that girls can gain more control over their sexual and reproductive health rights through empowerment.
Ashley, despite the seemingly unsurmountable odds, has picked herself up from the dust and now owns a lucrative vegetable stall which she runs during the week and on weekends she goes for baking lessons at a local community hall.
“This has helped me not to rely on my husband’s salary. I can buy diapers and clothes for my children. After completing my baking lessons, I will also be able to bake cakes and muffins for sale,” she said, her face beaming with joy.
“When a girl knows her rights and understands her body, she can stand firm even in the face of seemingly insurmountable pressure.
“She needs consistent, loving support, regular check-ins, safe spaces where she can talk without fear of vulnerability,” Chihava said.
“Empowerment starts with awareness and girls especially those in isolated areas must be reached with clear, honest and respectful information,” he added.
He emphasised that income-generating projects can be invaluable support systems which can help them build a future.
“With the right support, they can still dream, achieve and thrive,” he added.
