Malawi 2015-16

Only 1% of all women reported having more than one sexual partner in the past 12 months. Of those with
more than one partner in the last 12 months, 27% reported using a condom during last sexual intercourse
(Table 13.5.1). In 12 months before the survey, 10% of women had sex with a non-marital/noncohabitating
partner (a person who was neither their husband nor lived with them) and just 50% of those
reported using a condom during the last sexual intercourse with a non-marital, non-cohabiting partner
(Figure 13.4). On average, women have had 2.1 lifetime sexual partners.
Thirteen percent of men reported having more than
one sexual partner in the past 12 months. Of those
with more than one partner in the last 12 months,
30% reported using a condom during the last sexual
intercourse. In past 12 months, 27% of men reported
having sex with a non-marital, non-cohabitating
partner, a person who was neither their wife nor
lived with them (Table 13.5.2). Three-quarters
(75%) of men who had intercourse in the past 12
months with a non-marital, non-cohabiting partner
reported using a condom during the last sexual
intercourse with a non-marital, non-cohabiting
partner (Figure 13.4). Men had an average 4.5
lifetime sexual partners.
Patterns by background characteristics
Figure 13.4 Sex and condom use with
non-regular partner
Percentage of women and men age 15-49
10
27
Women
Had sex in the past 12
months with non-regular
partner
Men
50
75
Among those who had sex
with a non-regular partner,
percentage who used a
condom during last sex with
a non-regular partner
• The percentage of women who had sex with a non-marital, non-cohabitating partner in past 12 months
is the highest in the Southern region (13%) compared with the Central (8%) and the Northern (6%)
regions.
• Women in the Southern region were less likely than those in the Central or Northern regions (45%
versus 56%) to report condom use during their most recent sexual intercourse with a non-marital, noncohabitating
partner.
• The percentage of women who had sex with non-marital, non-cohabitating partners increases with
education, from 5% among women with no education to 22% among those with more than a secondary
education.
• Using a condom during last sexual intercourse with a non-marital partner was higher among women
with higher education levels, 62% among women with more than secondary education compared to
37% among women with no education.
• Men who are married are more likely to have more than one partner than those who were never
married (16% compared to 8%).
• Among men, condom use with a non-marital partner is highest in the Northern region (86%) and
lowest in the Southern region (72%).
13.5 PAID SEX
The act of paying for sex introduces an uneven negotiating ground for safer sexual intercourse.
Transactional sex is the exchange of money, favours, or gifts for sexual intercourse. This type of sexual
intercourse is associated with a greater risk of contracting HIV and other STIs because of compromised
power relations and the likelihood of having multiple partners.
HIV/AIDS-related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviour • 205