HIV/AIDS and Women in Malawi

AIDS is the leading cause of death among adults in Malawi, the nation with the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. Nearly 60% of those infected with HIV in Malawi are women. Some contract the virus from their husbands. Many more women become infected when they engage in sex work. Most of the Malawian population is dependent on subsistence farming; recent droughts have caused food shortages that have driven many women to prostitution in order to support themselves and their children. A staggering 70.7% of sex workers in Malawi have HIV, a much higher prevalence rate than that of the general population. Gulu la anthu Oluka serves as an alternative source of income for these women, who can then afford to send their children to school and drastically reduce the likelihood that they too will be victims of the epidemic.

Artisan Voices

Zione Ngaiyaye, Gulu la anthu Oluka secretary and artisan: “I am a mother of two, formerly engaged in commercial sex work. I joined the knitting team after I revealed to PIH staff that I wished I could stop the sex trade and find a better alternative. I am the secretary for the group. Working with this group has changed my life in that I am able get money through knitting and share information on HIV and AIDS.”

Malawian Knitwear

Each knit or crocheted item is handcrafted by a woman from the Gulu la anthu Oluka cooperative in Neno, Malawi. Knitting and crocheting are practical activities for women in the group because they can be done around other household responsibilities, such as cooking and caring for children. The items produced by the group are made from a soft, machine-washable yarn purchased at a market four hours away from Neno. The yarn is then distributed to the women, who transform it into vibrant children's accessories.

Region: Southern Africa

Capital: Lilongwe

Population: 15,447,500 (2010)

Size: Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Languages: Chichewa (official), Chinyanja, Chiyao, Chitumbuka, other

Major religions: Christian (80%), Muslim, other

Life expectancy at birth: 50.92 years

HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 11.9%, 9th highest in the world

Infant mortality rate: 83.5 deaths/1,000 live births, 12th highest in the world

Population below poverty line: 53% (2004)

Literacy: Total 62.7%; Male 76.1%; Female 49.8%

Did You Know: In the early 1980s, Malawian ruler Hastings Kamuzu Banda banned the Simon & Garfunkel song "Cecilia" from the radio because its lyrics tooFacts strongly resembled a rough patch in his relationship with Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira, his life-long official hostess!

All statistics from CIA World Factbook 2010

Malawi is a primarily agricultural nation located in Southern Africa. It is one of three countries bordering Lake Malawi, Africa's third largest lake, which is famed for cichlids, a species of fish popular in tropical aquariums. The name “Malawi” is derived from the Maravi, a Bantu people who migrated from Congo 600 years ago. In 1891, it became the Nyasaland Protectorate under the British Empire (“Nyasa” is the Yao word for lake).

Democracy

Malawi obtained independence from Britain in 1964 after decades of rebellion, becoming a republic two years later. Its first ruler was Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, an authoritarian figure who used paramilitary forces to retain power in the country until the 1990s. While Banda's presidency was noted for improvements in the country's infrastructure and women's rights, it was also one of the most repressive regimes in African history. In 1993, the people of Malawi voted to establish a free multi-party democracy. Since then, the Malawian government has focused on overcoming its history of underdevelopment, now further complicated by the AIDS epidemic.

HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Malawi has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence. The disease's effects ripple outward from those suffering directly to their families and communities, compounding pre-existing societal problems. Malawi has implemented several campaigns targeting the epidemic. However, many remain reluctant to seek screening and treatment because of the social stigma attached to the disease. The government has attempted to counteract these challenges through the creation of a National AIDS Commission. In 2005, President Bingu Wa Mutharika launched the National AIDS Policy, calling for a multi-sectoral response to the epidemic, including prevention, treatment, and support services. This has resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of HIV in some urban areas, although the virus is on the rise in rural parts of the country.