Malawi - Population and Health

The 2008 census puts the population of Malawi at 13m. Half (47%) are between 0 and 14 years old (equivalent in the UK is 18%). The growth rate of 2.8% has increased the population by 32% in the last 10 years. On average there are 6 children born per woman (UK is 1.7).

Children

Hospital ward

Average life expectancy at birth is 40 years (UK is 78), partly because of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Adult prevalence has been stabilised at 12% with a successful testing campaign (3m tested by 2008) and provision of anti-retrovirals (184,000 people).

There are other improvements. 81% have access to safe and clean water. Although still high, under-5 mortality has decreased by 30% since 2000 to 118 per 1000 live births. There have been successful inoculation programmes to eliminate measles, neo-natal tetanus and polio.

Maternal mortality is among the worst in the world at 18 deaths per 1000 live births (2004). AIDS and poor nutrition are contributory factors, together with an under-resourced health service. The number of births attended by skilled personnel increased to 50% in 2007.

The few hospitals and clinics that there are in the Malawi, suffer from lack of facilities, medicines and staff. The country trains about 60 nurses each year but many leave to work abroad. To alleviate this, the UK Dept for International Development has announced a six year programme to support health services in Malawi, including £55m for training and retaining health workers.