AFRICA/KENYA - Married at age 13, HIV-positive and widow at 14: the story of Tatu Saidi

Mombasa (Agenzia Fides) - "When I found out I was HIV-positive, I immediately told my husband, who warned me not to tell anyone. And I did not dare contradict him.” Thus began the story of Tatu Saidi, a Kenyan girl of 14, widowed, from the Coast Province. Her story has reached Agenzia Fides on this World AIDS Day. Tatu's father offered her in marriage when she was only 13 years old, making her stop attending school. Being a submissive wife, she was well aware that her husband had relations with others, but could not do anything about it. She says: "My husband was immature and did not understand the difference between being single and being married. He always continued to behave as if he had no wife."
The girl became pregnant soon after the wedding, and when she took one of the prenatal care tests, she was found to be HIV-positive. Her husband died a few months later of complications related to AIDS. In Kenya, HIV is strongly associated with immoral behavior, and the social stigma that is all around HIV/AIDS in her deeply religious community certainly did not make the disclosure of her condition easy. Despite continued efforts and commitment against the spread of HIV, some traditional cultural practices in various parts of the country, such as the Coast Province, continue to hinder their success. Early marriage in the region where Tatu lives, for example, are common and 9-year-old girls are often given in marriage to older men.
Catholic hospitals are engaged with local journalists in increasing awareness of cultural practices that can lead to increased spread of HIV and reducing the stigma. Tatu's story is one of many in the Coast Province, where infections are increasing. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 1/12/2009 )