In Yandutse community, Ringim Local Government Area, Jigawa state, Nigeria, where tradition and beliefs intertwine with the journey of Bilki Lawan, meet Bilki, a 19-year-old adolescent girl who got married at the age of sixteen. Bilki is pregnant and a full-time housewife living amongst an estimated 38,000 adolescent girls in Ringim LGA (UNFPA, 2019). Bilki shares with us that the entire childbearing women in the family she came from have never attended Antenatal care (ANC) services. Her husband’s family nurtured the belief that attending antenatal care services was unnecessary or even a taboo. They relied on home births, lacking the crucial care and vital information for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery. But within this narrative is a story of transformation, resilience, and hope against the backdrop of a changing tide in Yandutse.

Everything changed when an A360-trained mentor in Yandutse visited Bilki’s community to create awareness about the importance of antenatal care for pregnant married girls and young women for the A360 Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) adaptation program.  The A360 Nigeria programme collaborates with young people and government health systems to break down barriers to access and voluntary use of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls aged 15-19, it is geared towards improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes for Adolescent girls through ensuring that quality sexual and reproductive health services are accessible to all adolescent girls thus supporting the Government of Nigeria’s Universal Health Coverage agenda. The programme is known as the Matasa Matan Arewa programme in Northern Nigeria. MNCH adaptation is an add-on to the existing Matasa Matan Arewa Adolescent 360 programme (MMA) in the State.  Bilki participated in the MMA Life Family and Health sessions, where married adolescent girls receive information and skills acquisition on reproductive and family health, financial literacy, life skills, and income-generating activities, Bilki learned about the risks associated with not attending antenatal care, including possible complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Inspired by the information she received, Bilki decided to confide in the Mentors about her family’s history of not attending ANC and their usual home delivery. The A360 Male Interpersonal and Communication Agent mobilised Bilki’s husband for their next Interpersonal and communication (IPC sessions). The sessions involve using visual aids to take the husbands through a journey of various scenarios that depict the relevance of ANC in achieving a healthy pregnancy. After this, Bilki’s husband was enlightened and completely convinced on the importance of Antenatal Care Services and the role husbands could play in supporting their wives to pursue healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries. Upon returning from work, he said to Bilki “ki shirya zamuje ragista awo’’ which translates to “Go get ready we are going for ANC” he proceeded and took his wife to register and attend the next ANC session on the 9^th of March 2024. He continued attending subsequent IPC sessions, alongside other husbands of adolescent girls in the community.

With her husband’s support, Bilki continued to attend her antenatal care appointments where she received essential medical screenings, care, and counselling from A360-trained ANC Experts. Thanks to the MNCH programme running in the state, Bilki could access vital drugs and supplements to support her baby’s healthy growth and address potential health issues before they become serious threats to her pregnancy.  Bilki’s journey reflects the transformative power of Education and Awareness in challenging traditional beliefs and in embracing beneficial healthcare practices. Her decision to seek ANC not only improved her health but also sets a positive example for many other married girls and young women in her community.  By sharing her story, Bilki proves that with the right support and information, every young woman can achieve a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery resulting in holistic positive health outcomes for them and their families.