HIV & Mother-to-Child Transmission
Every baby should be born free of HIV.
The four counties where we work have the highest HIV prevalence in Kenya, and young people carry a large share of new infections.
- adult HIV prevalence in Homa Bay, the highest of any county, against 3.7% nationallyKenya HIV Estimates 2022
- 15.2%
- of Kenya’s new HIV infections in 2022 were among young people aged 15–24Kenya HIV Estimates 2022
- 41%
- mother-to-child transmission rate in Kenya, above the elimination target of under 5%Kenya HIV Estimates 2022
- 8.6%
The challenge
Homa Bay (15.2%), Kisumu (14.5%), Siaya (13.2%) and Migori (9.7%) are the four counties with the highest HIV prevalence in Kenya. They are also the four counties where GPAK works.
An adolescent mother living with HIV faces the hardest version of every barrier: she may hide her status from family, miss clinic visits to avoid being seen, and stop treatment while breastfeeding. Mothers stopping treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding is one of the main reasons babies are still infected.
Services exist. Testing, PMTCT and treatment are free in public facilities. What breaks is the pathway between a frightened girl and the clinic, and keeping her in care once she is there.
How GPAK responds
We refer girls to adolescent-friendly HIV testing, counselling and treatment, and to PMTCT services during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Health & HIV referralsWe track referral completion and clinic attendance with local health facilities, so a girl who drops out of care is followed up.
How referrals are trackedCounselling and peer groups tackle the stigma and fear that keep girls away from care.
Psychosocial supportHelp a young mother through all of it
These challenges arrive together in a girl’s life, so our support does too.