Malawi 2015-16

avoid getting HIV; 64% of women and 64% of men with no education know both HIV prevention
methods compared with 74% of women and 78% of men with more than secondary education.
The 2015-16 MDHS assessed HIV and AIDS knowledge and misconceptions by obtaining information on
common misconceptions about HIV transmission. Respondents were asked whether they think it is
possible for a healthy looking person to have HIV and whether they believe HIV is transmitted through
mosquito bites, supernatural means, or sharing food with a person who has HIV or AIDS.
Comprehensive knowledge of HIV
Knowing that consistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse and having
just one uninfected faithful partner can reduce the chances of getting HIV,
knowing that a healthy-looking person can have HIV, and rejecting the two
most common local misconceptions about transmission or prevention of HIV.
Sample: Women and men age 15-49
Table 13.2 shows that 42% of women compared to 48% of men have comprehensive knowledge of HIV.
Just over half of women (58%) know that a healthy looking person can have HIV and reject that mosquito
bites and witchcraft can cause HIV, compared with 66% of men.
Trends: The percentage of men and women with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS has only
increased a few percentage points between 2010 and 2015-16, moving from 41% to 42% among women
and 45% to 48% among men.
13.2 KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION
Increasing the level of general knowledge about transmission of HIV from mother to child and reducing
the risk of transmission with antiretroviral medications are critical to reducing mother-to-child
transmission (MTCT) of HIV. To assess MTCT knowledge, respondents were asked whether HIV can be
transmitted from mother to child through breastfeeding and whether a mother with HIV can reduce the risk
of transmission to her baby by taking certain medications during pregnancy.
About three-quarters (76%) of
women know that HIV can be
transmitted during pregnancy, 81%
that it can be transmitted during
labour, and 87% that it can be
transmitted during breastfeeding
(Table 13.3). Overall, 69% know
all three transmission modes of
HIV mother-to-child transmission
of HIV. Among men, 72% of men
know that HIV can be transmitted
during pregnancy, 82% during
labour, and 88% during
breastfeeding. Overall, 61% of men
know all three transmission modes.
Knowledge of the three
transmission modes is the lowest
among women and men age 15-19
(57% and 55%, respectively), and
Figure 13.2 Knowledge of mother-to-child
transmission (MTCT) of HIV
Know that HIV can be
transmitted from mother
to child:
During pregnancy
During delivery
By breastfeeding
Know that the risk of MTCT
can be reduced by mother
taking special drugs
Percentage of women and men age 15-49
is the highest among women age 25-29 and men age 40-49 (76% and 66%, respectively). Four in five
women (82%) and men (78%) know that mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be reduced by taking
special medications (Figure 13.2).
76
72
81
82
78
82
87
88
Women
Men
HIV/AIDS-related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviour • 203