Malawi 2015-16

2015 Spectrum model estimated that there will be approximately 34,000 new HIV infections and 30,000
HIV-related deaths in 2016 2 .
In 2015, Malawi developed the 2015-2020 National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) which provides a
new framework for the implementation of HIV programs that align with the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets.
The 2015-2020 NSP focuses on case identification, and the promotion of access to antiretroviral therapy
(ART), adherence, and retention (2015-2020 NSP). National efforts and investments from donors and other
partners have also focused on HIV prevention, knowledge, and behavioural interventions. In 2014, Malawi
developed the 2015-2020 HIV Prevention Strategy that focused on delivering behaviour change
interventions such as life skills education, promotion of faithfulness, use of male and female condoms, and
activities that addressed gender-based violence, stigma and discrimination, and harmful cultural practices
(NAC 2015). The Malawi country program has been monitoring the impact of these programs through
routine HIV program monitoring, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Biological Behavioural
Surveillance Surveys (BBSS), and most recently, a Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA)
survey.
The objective of this chapter is to provide data on and trends in HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and
behaviours, which include knowledge of HIV prevention methods, stigma and discrimination, number of
sexual partners, condom use, self-reported HIV testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission
(PMTCT) of HIV, and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in Malawi. The chapter presents
these data at the national level and by other demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.
13.1 HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE, TRANSMISSION, AND PREVENTION METHODS
About three-quarters of women and men age 15-49
know that using condoms consistently can reduce the
risk of HIV. More than eight in ten women and men
(86% of women and 89% of men age 15-49) know
that limiting sexual intercourse to one uninfected
partner who has no other partners can reduce the risk
of HIV. Seventy percent of women and men know
that both consistent condom use and only having sex
with one uninfected partner can prevent HIV (Table
13.1).
47
Trends: The percentage of respondents who know
that using condoms consistently and limiting sexual
intercourse to one uninfected partner who has no
other partners can reduce the risk of HIV has
increased between 2000 and 2015-16 from 56 to
2000 2004 2010 2015-16
70% among women and from 63% to 70% among men (Figure 13.1).
Patterns by background characteristics
Figure 13.1 Trends in knowledge of HIV
prevention methods
Percentage of women and men age 15-49
who know that HIV can be prevented by
using condoms and limiting sex to one
uninfected partner
63 63 66
70
Men
66 70
56 Women
• Knowledge of prevention methods among men varies by region; 66% of men in Northern region know
that using condoms consistently and limiting sexual intercourse to one uninfected partner who has no
other partners can reduce the risk of HIV, compared with 69% of men in the Central region and 73%
in the Southern region.
• Women and men with higher education are more likely than those with a lower education level to
recognise that using condoms and limiting sexual intercourse to one uninfected partner is a way to
2
Figures are based on 2015 UNAIDS estimates
202 • HIV/AIDS-related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviour