Jennifer Kadogo, who anguished over the possibility of transmitting HIV to her newborn baby, discovered ways to prevent this through a World Vision program.

April 2008

By Patterson Siema, World Vision Kenya, and Peter Warski, World Vision U.S.

When 35-year-old Jennifer Kadogo of Kenya was pregnant with her youngest child, Hadija, her health began to fail dramatically. Doctors urged her to test for HIV, concerned that if she was positive for the disease, she could transmit it to her baby if no preventive measures were taken.

At first, Jennifer refused. But after considering the potential consequences for her child, she decided it was the best move.

"[Clinic staff] informed me that if my results were positive, I could successfully prevent my child from getting the HIV virus," she recalls.

When the test results came back, her worst fears were confirmed. Despite the reassurance she had received at the clinic, she still feared her child would be HIV-positive and die of AIDS.

Methods of prevention

Through her despair, however, the soon-to-be mother of a third child learned she had options. A World Vision nurse in her community explained that Jennifer could either exclusively breast-feed Hadija for six months — which studies have shown greatly reduces the likelihood of mother-to-child transmission, as opposed to babies who also are fed solids during this time period — or opt for bottle feeding, a more expensive but effective alternative.*

With World Vision's support, Jennifer chose the latter. "I chose replacement [bottle] feeding because it is difficult to purely breast-feed the child for six months," she says.

World Vision provided her with milk on the day Hadija was born, which she used until her daughter was 6 months old. When Hadija was 3 months old, World Vision also provided the family with two goats — ensuring a continual, safe alternative source of nourishment for the child.

'I...thanked God'

When Hadija reached 18 months of age, it came time for her to be tested for HIV.

Jennifer was understandably apprehensive, but also hopeful. "During the testing, I saw one child who was very emaciated, and mine was healthy," she says, adding that Hadija's good physical condition had encouraged her to proceed with the test.

But the results weren't immediately available — they had to be sent to Nairobi for screening. Though the waiting period took its toll on Jennifer, she held on to hope.

"World Vision employees used to visit me every time to encourage me and to check on how we were doing. If they had not visited us, it would have been a big challenge for me," she says.

Finally, the results came in on a piece of paper. "I saw Hadija's name, [and] she was negative," recalls Jennifer. "I had to read again several times to confirm, and indeed she was. I was so overjoyed and thanked God for having saved Hadija from the HIV virus."

A way to support others

To help cope with her own situation, Jennifer had meanwhile joined an HIV- and AIDS-support group of 43 members. Now that she knows Hadija is healthy, though, she sees the group as an opportunity to also help others who are facing similar circumstances. "In some instances, we reach out to women who are suffering in silence and assist them," she says.

Jennifer vividly remembers her own ordeal — facing the possibility that she may have transmitted her own HIV infection to her newborn child. In this regard, she is grateful for the counsel she received and eager to assist others.

"I thank World Vision for this project, as it has really encouraged and benefited me as well as the other families [in our village] affected by the HIV virus," she says.

*World Vision believes breast-feeding is best for babies and their mothers, and generally discourages substitute feeding. A rare exception is when the mother is HIV-positive. As in Jennifer's case, if HIV diagnosis is confirmed, all alternatives are explained to the mother. If she chooses breast milk substitutes, our staff make sure she has the means — including access to clean water — to continue preparing the formula and sterilizing the bottles as long as the baby needs it. Staff also follow up to ensure the baby is thriving.