An epidemiologic study of drug abuse and HIV and AIDS in Malawi

In this study we examine the prevalence of HIV among drug abusers in Malawi. A purposive sample of 200 drug abusers was invited to provide urine and blood samples. The subjects were selected from self-presenting drug abusers who visited a district hospital in Malawi. The urine samples from both men and women were tested for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Urine samples from women were also tested for pregnancy. The blood samples were tested for HIV. The study found a higher prevalence of HIV among non-injecting drug abusers, with those who abused alcohol being more likely to be HIV positive as compared to cannabis abusers. Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was, however, low. The main conclusion from this study is that drug abuse is a risk factor for HIV and not as much for STIs, even in non-injecting drug abusers. KEY WORDS: Malawi, drug abuse, cannabis, HIV epidemiology, non injecting drug use, sexually transmitted infectio

Knowledge of correct condom use and consistency of use among adolescents in four countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Using data from the 2004 National Adolescent Surveys, this paper undertook a detail analysis of knowledge of correct condom use and consistency of use, as well as their covariates, among adolescents in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda. The strongest predictor of knowledge of correct condom use among both male and female adolescents is exposure to a condom use demonstration. In Burkina Faso, Ghana and Uganda, adolescents who have seen a condom demonstration are 2 to 5 times as likely as those who have not to have good knowledge of correct condom use. Age, ever received sex education in school, ever attended school and exposure to the radio are also significant predictors of knowledge of correct use, particularly among men. As indicated by behavior among young men, the extent to which adolescents use the condom consistently varies across countries. Yet, it is nowhere near the required 100% level. The proportion reporting consistent use of the method in the 3 months preceding the survey is 38% in Burkina Faso, 47% in Ghana, 20% in Malawi and 36% in Uganda. Age difference between partners is a major determinant of consistent use of condoms: young men whose partner is 0-4 years younger are about two and a half times more likely to use condoms consistently than those who whose partner is 5-9 years younger. Other important predictors of consistent condom use are residence, education, living arrangement and exposure to mass media, specifically the radio and newspaper. Findings from this study point to areas that policy and program can address to provide adolescents access to the kinds of information and service they need to achieve healthy sexual and reproductive lives. A l\'aide des données recueillies des Enquêtes Nationales sur les Adolescents en 2004, cet article fait une analyse détaillée de la connaissance du bon mode d\'emploi du préservatif et la consistence de son emploi aussi bien que ses co-variables, chez les adolescents au Burkina-Faso, au Ghana, au Malawi et en Ouganda. L\'indice le plus fort de la connaissance du bon mode d\'emploi du préservatif chez les adolescents et les adolescentes est de les exposer à une démonstration de l\'emploi du préservatif. Au Burkina-Faso, au Ghana et en Ouganda les adolescents qui ont vu une démonstration du préservatif ont 2 à 5 fois plus la possibilité d\'avoir une bonne connaissance que ceux qui n\'ont pas vu la démonstration. L\'âge, avoir jamais reçu les cours sur l\'éducation sexuelle à l\'école, avoir jamais fréquenté une école et l\'exposition à la radio, constituent aussi des indices importants de la connaissance du bon mode d\'emploi, surtout chez les hommes. Comme l\'a indiqué le comportement chez les jeunes hommes, le point jusqu\'à quel les adolescents utilisent constamment le préservatif varie de pays en pays. Pourtant, cela n\'est pas proche du niveau de 100% requis. La proportion qui a signalé avoir constamment utilisé la méthode au cours des trois mois précédant l\'enquête est 38% au Burkina-Faso, 47% au Ghana, 20% au Malawi et 36% en Ouganda. La disparité d\'âge entre les partenaires est un déterminant important de l\'usage constant des préservatifs. Les jeunes hommes dont les partenaires étaient plus jeunes de 0-4 ans ont environ deux fois et demi la possibilité d\'utiliser constamment le préservatif que ceux dont les partenaires sont moins âgées de 5-9 ans. Autres indices importants de l\'usage constant des préservatifs sont la résidence, l\'instruction, la manière de se loger et l\'exposition aux médias, en particulier la radio et le journal. Les résultats de cette étude signalent les domaines dont la politique et le programme doivent s\'occuper pour fournir aux adolescents l\'accès aux genres de renseignements et de services dont ils ont besoin pour accomplir la vie sexuelle et de reproduction saine Keywords: corret condom use, sex education, adolescents African Journal of Reproductive Health Vol. 11 (3) 2007: pp. 197-22

Protecting the next generation in Malawi: new evidence on adolescent sexual and reproductive health needs

In recent decades, the AIDS epidemic has added a deadly new dimension to Malawi’s already numerous and complex public health challenges. The spread of HIV/AIDS is inextricably linked to other sexual and reproductive health problems, as the behaviors that expose people to HIV are the same behaviors that put them at risk for other STIs and unintended pregnancy. The youth of Malawi bear the brunt of these intersecting problems. Unintended pregnancy among adolescent women can lead to social stigmatization, loss of educational opportunities and physical harm, either from attempting an unsafe abortion or from giving birth before reaching physical maturity. Youth are also at high risk for STIs, including HIV, since many do not have the information they need to avoid unsafe behaviors, the willingness to risk embarrassment to obtain contraceptives or the knowledge to identify STI symptoms. Yet there is cause for optimism: Adolescents want to learn more about sexual and reproductive health matters, and many have already adopted protective sexual behaviors. New research findings on 12–19-year-olds, presented in this report, make it possible to fill many gaps in our understanding of adolescents’ lives and identify avenues for government agencies and other key stakeholders to help youth protect their health