Most men in Kwale county are afraid to go for HIV testing with their wives during prenatal clinics.
This was revealed after a section of women in the region decried increased neglect of wives by their husbands during pregnancies.
Community health volunteer Juliana Mlunje said often times women are forced to go for prenatal checkups accompanied by uncles or brothers.
"Many husbands refuse to accompany wives to clinics fearing the HIV tests," she said.
Mlunje said the husbands believe that if their women test negative for HIV, they are also safe.
She said the situation is jeopardising the general health of both women and unborn children.
Mlunje said in some cases mothers might test negative but their men are positive.
However, the CHV said due to ignorance by men, it becomes impossible to protect wives and children from HIV infections.
"If you get tested it will help in ensuring mothers have a safe delivery and take the necessary precautions but unfortunately husbands are not cooperating," she said.
Mlunje said some men abandon their wives and children, resulting in poor nutritional and mental health for both children and women.
She said husbands are often reported to be spending most of their time in muguka and mnazi drinking dens.
Mlunje said the trend has contributed to the rise in cases of gender-based violence in the region.
She said some men go home while high on drugs demanding food from wives which they don't provide.
Mlunje said if the women fail to provide the food, they are beaten by their husbands.
She said some children sleep and go to school on empty stomachs.
Zainab Hamisi said the ongoing drought has worsened the health of women in the region.
She said since most women are left to look after their children, the burden is too heavy for them.
Hamisi said women and children, especially in the drought-hit areas lack proper diet.
"There are some scenarios where people eat ugali with salt daily and husbands don't bother because they are also unemployed," she said.
Hamisi said many women from Kwale are looking for jobs in the Middle East to support jobless husbands.
"Things are very hard here. Unemployment is wreaking havoc affecting women," she said.
Flora Awinja urged the government to empower women economically so they can take care of their families.
She said they should be introduced to income-generating projects to raise healthy families.
"If you support a woman, you have helped the entire community," she said.
Governor Fatuma Achani said the county has made great strides in empowering and supporting women in the region.
She said more than 50 women's groups have been registered as companies to enable them bid tenders.
Achani also said the county, in partnership with the national government, has been distributing relief food in drought-hit areas to cushion hungry residents.
She said the county is also constructing water projects in various parts as a way of addressing the drought situation.
