AEGiS-15IAC: The problems and effects of mother to child (MTC) HIV transmission in an extended family system in Ghana.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

The problems and effects of mother to child (MTC) HIV transmission in an extended family system in Ghana.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10313)

Duodu MO, Osei-Ntim O, Ntumy L, Quaynor G, Osei-Ntim J, Amponsah G
Jua ben Government Hospital. P.O.Box 34., Juaben-Ashanti., Ghana

ISSUES: Mother to child transmission of HIV accounts for the highest single mode of infection in children in Ghana. The extended family system creates an avenue for interference in decision making by women and almost wipes away their privacy and freedom. It is worse if the economic status of the woman is not all that sound or the woman depends on family members, particularly among her in-laws.

DESCRIPTION: Most women believe in our local traditions from which it is derived that "a woman is supposedly, placed under the cover and care of the husband". This tradition believes that it is the responsibility of the man to provide all that the woman and her children need. In the pursuit of this some men have added to it, the right to make decisions for their wives and unfortunately in some cases concerning testing, breastfeeding, baby-care, participation in programmes on HIV/AIDS' awareness, education etc. Sometimes these decisions are influenced by in-laws. This has added to the fear associated with HIV and its Stigma.

LESSONS LEARNED: Women in the low income group and those without any meaningful source of income and therefore depend on their spouses and families are the most vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS' infection. They have not only accepted decisions on their health from their husbands and in-laws but also have almost lost their rights to decide on issues concerning their in-born and newly-born babies. Recommendation: We need to step-up our Information, Education and Communication (I. E. C) programmes and involve the communities in whatever programmes members of the community would be involved in and educate them on local, easy to operate small-scale businesses. This would help them to be independent economically and socially and would offer them the freedom to decide the direction of their individual lives.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Family, Mothers, Family Relations, Interpersonal Relations, Breast Feeding, Research, Decision Making, Spouses, Ghana, Child, Humans, Female, Male, Infant, transmission

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C10313