By Mercy Matonga:
The latest Demographic and Health Survey, which National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted, has revealed significant improvements in maternal health among women in Malawi.
This was disclosed in a report launched in Lilongwe Thursday.
NSO Commissioner Shelton Kanyanda and Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda launched it.
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According to the report, the number of women who are attending antenatal services has nearly doubled compared to previous findings.
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The survey shows that 96 percent of women are now attending antenatal services, a dramatic increase from the 50 percent recorded in the previous survey.
‘During the five years preceding the survey, the neonatal mortality rate was 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, the infant mortality rate was 35 deaths per 1,000 live births and the under-5 mortality rate was 48 deaths per 1,000 live births,” the report reads.
The study also highlights a decline in fertility rates.
The average number of children born per woman in Malawi has decreased to 3.7.
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Fertility is highest among women aged between 20 and 24 years, with 178 births per 1,000 women compared to 133 births per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 19 years.
Fertility then declines with age.
“The total fertility rate in Malawi has steadily decreased over time, from 6.7 children per woman in 1992 and 6.0 in 2004 to 4.4 children per woman in 2015-16, reaching 3.7 children per woman in 2024,” the report indicates.
However, the survey raises concerns over certain trends.
For instance, the number of overweight children has risen, posing potential health risks. Furthermore, the vaccination coverage has declined.
‘The percentage of children aged between 12 and 23 months who are fully vaccinated against all basic antigens has fluctuated over time. It decreased from 82 percent in 1992 to 70 percent in 2000, rose to 81 percent in 2010, and then declined to 67 percent in 2024.
“Meanwhile, the percentage of children with no vaccinations fell from 3 percent in 1992 to 1 percent in 2024,” the report adds.
Speaking at the launch, Chithyola Banda expressed optimism about the findings, saying healthy people were key players in economic development efforts.
“A healthy population drives economic growth as people are better able to engage in agriculture and other productive activities. However, there are still areas where more effort is needed to achieve tangible results,” Chithyola Banda said.
Kanyanda described the research as a tool for assessing Malawi’s progress and identify areas for improvement.
“These results provide a roadmap of how we are doing. We believe that based on these findings, the relevant institutions will take action to address areas that require improvement,” Kanyanda said.
