Isiyaku Ahmed
In the Farawa section of Kumbotso Local Government Area, Kano State, 29-year-old Fatima Shehu lives a life of constant struggle.
Married ten years ago, Fatima is already a mother of six children. She juggles between endless domestic chores, taking care of her husband, and looking after her children, four of whom were born within the first five years of her marriage.
Her children, especially the third and fourth, are visibly malnourished and frequently ill. Fatima admits she had little understanding of child spacing when she married early.
She had barely completed secondary school before her family arranged her marriage, reflecting the cultural norm in her community where the pride of a woman is measured by how many children she can bear.
In fact, among women in her neighborhood, there is often silent competition over who has more children.
Although Fatima loves her children deeply, she acknowledges the challenges of raising them in poverty.
She, her husband Nura Usman, and their seven children all live together in a single room in a compound of ten families.
They share a toilet and bathroom with neighbors, and the family can rarely afford two square meals a day, as Nura earns very little from his mechanic job.
Speaking to Stallion Times in an exclusive interview, Fatima disclosed: “My first son is always ill and malnourished.
“Because I had my babies back-to-back, I could not breastfeed him properly. Before the first son was even one year old, I was pregnant again. Both he and his younger sister were denied adequate breast milk, and the doctors keep saying they are underweight.”
Beyond nutrition, Fatima faces barriers in accessing health services, particularly child spacing programs.
She explained that it was through the activities of some civil society organizations in Farawa quarters (where she lives) and radio sensitization programs that she learned about the benefits of child spacing.
“Now that I know the benefits of child spacing, I am not sure my husband would agree. Even if he does, the cost of the services is another problem.
“People like us, who cannot afford these things, are left to suffer. More awareness and support are needed so that families like mine can embrace child spacing,” she explained.
Her situation reflects the reality in many rural and semi-urban communities across Kano State. Despite being Nigeria’s most populous state, access to family planning services remains limited, especially for low-income families.
Many public facilities either lack the required commodities or the services are not consistent.
Community sensitization is also weak, leaving women at the mercy of tradition and societal expectations.
Health experts warn that without stronger investment in family planning and awareness in Kano, families like Fatima’s will continue to struggle with poverty, poor nutrition, and high infant mortality.
Children in such households often miss out on quality education and healthcare, perpetuating a cycle of poverty that affects the entire society.
For Fatima, the message is clear: “Child spacing would have helped me give better care to my children.
“Without child spacing, we remain trapped in poverty, sickness, and constant worry.”
Her voice represents thousands of women across Kano who face the same challenge, balancing cultural expectations with the harsh realities of survival.
Plan your family. Secure your future.
