Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa-Herald Reporter
A DEEP-SEATED fear of stigma is preventing pregnant women from accessing essential health services in Gokwe South District, leading to a concerning rise in home deliveries and new HIV infections among infants.
This alarming trend emerged during a recent community engagement programme facilitated by the National Aids Council (NAC).
Despite Zimbabwe’s remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, community members and health officials report that the fear of being labelled after a positive HIV test is causing many to avoid clinics altogether.
The reluctance to seek care is not limited to expectant mothers.
Health workers also identified a worrying pattern of low health-seeking behaviour among men, further complicating prevention efforts.
Community members pointed to a lack of confidentiality at health institutions as a primary driver of this fear.
“This issue does not apply to mothers only, but to both parents,” said Mrs Esteri Mandoga from Katema Village.
“Since these health institutions are playing a major role, there is no privacy. For example, a nurse will just come out and shout, ‘those who are on ART, please follow me.’ People feel embarrassed and annoyed because they know they will be subjected to stigma. Once the news goes out that there is no privacy, people start shunning the clinics.”
This avoidance has direct, tragic consequences.
“This now led to a rise in home deliveries and subsequently new infections among infants,” Mrs Mandoga added.
Ms Eunice Shumba highlighted the pervasive and damaging beliefs that still exist within the community.
“People turn heads when they hear that so-and-so is HIV positive. Some go to the extent of severing any ties with you. This is where the level of stigma has reached.”
She suggested that intensified education is crucial.
“The community needs to know that being HIV positive does not mean one is dying. Once one is put on ART and religiously follows all the instructions, they can live happily just like someone who is not HIV positive.”
Echoing this sentiment, Mr Enock Gwatisenga called for a fundamental shift in community mindset.
“Stigma is wrong and as a community, we should shun it, totally. People are now afraid to even walk during the day once they test positive.”
The fear of stigma has made home deliveries a largely unspoken, yet growing, habit. This practice is particularly dangerous because it prevents access to Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services.
Mrs Kamudandi, the HIV focal person at Gokwe South District Hospital, pointed out the associated risks.
“Home deliveries put infants at a major risk of contracting the virus,” she said, strongly encouraging mothers to deliver at health facilities. She also appealed to the community to shun stigma and for men to become more involved in family health.
The report that men have low health-seeking behaviour was confirmed by community members.
“It is not a lie. Men have that tendency,” said Mr Alfonse Singadi. He also pointed to a need for more awareness campaigns on the advantages of male circumcision.
One man, Mr Morgan Marapira, shared his personal transformation.
“I was also afraid of being stigmatised once I test positive, but all that has changed now through education. Let me tell you the truth, I am not the only one. There are a lot of men out there who do not want to come for HIV testing. We are family heads and we should lead by good example.”
According to NAC, there has been a worrying increase in new HIV infant infections, linked to low ANC coverage. Mother-to-child transmission is occurring mostly among women aged 20-24.
NAC indicated that the Gokwe South district has a 71 percent ANC coverage for the period between October 2023 and July 2024. In response, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, supported by NAC, is conducting community dialogues on the importance of early ANC bookings and PMTCT.
While Zimbabwe has reached the “95-95-95” target, these gains are threatened by the rising new infections driven by stigma and the resulting avoidance of healthcare services.
Addressing this is now a critical human rights and public health imperative for ending the Aids epidemic.
