Wife #3

M is 28 years old.  When she was 6 months pregnant, she learned she was HIV positive. On the day her husband learned this news, he beat her violently. 

Eventually, neighbours came to M's rescue and took her to the hospital. A nurse trained to respond sensitively to women experiencing violence, encouraged M to explain what had happened. The nurse made a few calls, and about an hour later, M’s husband arrived at the hospital.

M's husband admitted he had beaten M because of her positive status.  As he was talking, M interrupted, explaining to the nurse that she was her husband's second wife,  and that his first wife had died from AIDS. While beating her, M's husband had loudly accused her of contracting the virus from other men. But eventually with the nurse's questioning, the husband admitted that M was not actually his second wife, but his third. Both his previous wives had died of AIDS. M's husband had beat her because he was afraid she would tell the neighbours about his status. 

The nurse counseled the couple for a long time. M's husband promised not to beat her again and to take himself and their 2 other children for regular check-ups as well. 

Will he make good on his promise? 

Will the 2 children be tested for HIV? What about the unborn baby?

Nurses with the training, time and motivation to follow up on these cases are so few. But the women who face brutal violence are many.