Child marriages in Uzumba sparks intervention

About 20 percent of marriages in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP) district involve children, a worrying trend that has prompted the National Aids Council (NAC) to roll out an intensive community-based programme aimed at reducing new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and early unions.

NAC is implementing the Sista2Sista model across the district in response to rising cases of child marriages, school drop-outs, and teenage pregnancies, which are fuelling HIV transmission among adolescent girls and young women. UMP district AIDS coordinator Owen Mupemhi described the situation as a major public health and social concern, noting a direct link between early marriages, teenage pregnancies, and HIV infections.

"According to national macro indicator cluster surveys, UMP is among the remote rural districts facing serious challenges of child marriages and teenage pregnancies. About 10 to 20 percent of marriages in this district involve children, mainly driven by socio-economic pressures and school drop-outs," said Mupemhi.

Antenatal care statistics from local health facilities indicate that HIV positivity among teenage pregnant girls ranges between 15 and 20 percent, highlighting ongoing transmission among adolescent girls and young women.

"Our antenatal care data indicates that HIV positivity among teenage pregnancies is around 15 to 20 percent. This shows clear evidence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls and young women in our district. Child marriages and teenage pregnancies are closely linked to these new infections," he said.

The Sista2Sista programme, rolled out in 10 wards across UMP, aims to strengthen HIV and STI prevention, promote sexual and reproductive health education, and empower young women economically. Under the programme, trained mentors recruit groups of 25 girls and young women aged 10 to 24 using a risk assessment tool to identify the most vulnerable participants.

The groups undergo structured education sessions guided by a health manual and are linked to essential services, including HIV testing, treatment for those who test positive, STI screening and treatment, condom distribution, and gender-based violence support services.

"The model is designed to empower adolescent girls and young women. We want to strengthen awareness on HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and ultimately halt further transmission of HIV among this group. We are already seeing positive results, with a decline in STI cases and new HIV infections in the wards where the programme is being implemented," said Mupemhi.

Sista2Sista mentor for Ward 13, Shuvai Mukanganga, added that the programme had transformed behaviour among club members, including improving adherence to treatment for those living with HIV, signalling early successes in curbing the district's health and social challenges.