Who is left behind? invisible sexual partners of people living with human immunodeficiency virus outside global key population frameworks in geri alimi and kabusa village of north central nigeria
1
Busoni Inspires, Apo-dutse/Abuja, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) responses prioritize key populations (KP) such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and people in prisons. Sexual partners of people living with HIV (PLHIV), despite being central to transmission dynamics and affected by gendered power relations, are often overlooked. This programme addressed gaps in HIV prevention and care for sexual partners, particularly women in north central nigeria to generate evidence on how social norms, stigma, and programme design influence partners’ access to HIV prevention, testing, and care.
METHODS:
The programme was implemented in two phases. phase one in geri alimi, kwara state was in 2022, using community-based outreach to deliver HIV education on transmission, myths, and treatment options to 227 participants. Rapid testing identified 5 positive cases, who were referred to health facilities outside their communities to ensure confidentiality and reduce provider bias in starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). Attendance was predominantly male which reflected gendered mobility norms limiting women’s participation. This prompted phase two in kabusa, abuja to employ a house-to-house approach to reach populations typically unreached by community outreach. 99 participants were tested, with 13 positive cases referred to begin ART.
RESULTS:
Structural exclusion of partners, especially women, contributes to delayed testing and untreated infection. Gendered silence and moral burden shape health-seeking behaviour, with women reporting enduring illness quietly due to norms around loyalty, silence and preserving family honour. These invisible sufferings lead to preventable morbidity and mortality which is outside formal HIV response systems.
CONCLUSIONS:
Partners of PLHIV must be reframed as a priority population in HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support frameworks. partner-focused interventions, gender-transformative strategies, and psychosocial support are essential. Future programmes should pilot couple- and partner-inclusive models and generate evidence to inform equitable and effective HIV responses.
Global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) responses prioritize key populations (KP) such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and people in prisons. Sexual partners of people living with HIV (PLHIV), despite being central to transmission dynamics and affected by gendered power relations, are often overlooked. This programme addressed gaps in HIV prevention and care for sexual partners, particularly women in north central nigeria to generate evidence on how social norms, stigma, and programme design influence partners’ access to HIV prevention, testing, and care.
METHODS:
The programme was implemented in two phases. phase one in geri alimi, kwara state was in 2022, using community-based outreach to deliver HIV education on transmission, myths, and treatment options to 227 participants. Rapid testing identified 5 positive cases, who were referred to health facilities outside their communities to ensure confidentiality and reduce provider bias in starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). Attendance was predominantly male which reflected gendered mobility norms limiting women’s participation. This prompted phase two in kabusa, abuja to employ a house-to-house approach to reach populations typically unreached by community outreach. 99 participants were tested, with 13 positive cases referred to begin ART.
RESULTS:
Structural exclusion of partners, especially women, contributes to delayed testing and untreated infection. Gendered silence and moral burden shape health-seeking behaviour, with women reporting enduring illness quietly due to norms around loyalty, silence and preserving family honour. These invisible sufferings lead to preventable morbidity and mortality which is outside formal HIV response systems.
CONCLUSIONS:
Partners of PLHIV must be reframed as a priority population in HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support frameworks. partner-focused interventions, gender-transformative strategies, and psychosocial support are essential. Future programmes should pilot couple- and partner-inclusive models and generate evidence to inform equitable and effective HIV responses.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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