The DHS Program

October 5, 2009 
New study finds dramatic increases in family planning use but HIV prevalence has remained essentially unchanged.

Lilongwe, Malawi
Forty-two percent of currently married women in Malawiare using a modern method of family planning, according to the 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) which was officially launched on 6th October 2011at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe by Hon Dr. Ken Lipenga, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning.

Nationwide, use of family planning has increased since the last MDHS in 2004, when just 28% of currently married women were using a modern method of family planning. Currently 42% of currently married women are using a modern method of family planning. Use of modern methods of family planning varies by district from a low of 27% of currently married women in Mangochi to a high of 52% in Mwanza.

The 2010 MDHS tested over 7,000 women age 15-49 and over 6,800 men age 15-54 for HIV. Overall, 10.6% of the total population in Malawi is HIV positive. HIV prevalence is higher among women (12.9%) than among men (8.1%). The 2004 MDHS found that 11.8% of the total population in Malawi is HIV positive. Though the 2010 MDHS found a slightly lower overall HIV prevalence, the decrease is not statistically significant and does not signify true changes in the population.

The 2010 MDHS relies on data collected from a sample of households which is representative of the whole population. The survey conducted from June to November 2010 and interviewed 24,825 households, 23,020 women age 15-49, and 7,175 men age 15-54.

The 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey was implemented by the National Statistical Office (NSO) and the Community Health Sciences Unit (CHSU). ICF Macro provided technical assistance for the survey through the USAID-funded MEASURE DHS programme. The funding for the MDHS was provided by the government of Malawi, the National AIDS Commission (NAC), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

For more information, contact: Demography and Social Statistics Division, National Statistical Office (NSO), Chimbiya Road, P.O. Box 333, Zomba, Malawi. Telephone: 265-1-524-377; 265-1-524-111. Fax: 265-1-525-130 Email: enquiries@statistics.gov.mw, Web: www.nso.malawi.net