An analysis of HIV risky behaviors of college students in Malawi: A case study of Bunda and The Polytechnic

Malawi’s first case of HIV was identified in 1985. Since then the Government, assisted by international aid organizations, has mounted campaign to promote HIV&AIDS awareness, offer Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), and to prevent the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. The 2010 UNAIDS Report on Malawi shows that the spread of the epidemic has stabilized and even may be declining. The concern, however, is whether young men and women, who constitute the high-risk population of contracting the disease, such as college students, are paying heed to the campaign. This study of a small group of students at the Polytechnic and Bunda College campuses of the University of Malawi in 2008 examined the propensity of the students to engage in behaviors likely to expose them to HIV & AIDS. The study found that at least 20 percent of those studied exposed themselves through risky behavior, such as high alcohol consumption, unprotected sex and use of drugs, even though 80 percent were aware that such behaviors were likely to predispose them to the disease. Since the sample size was very small, we did not generalize our study to all university students in Malawi or even to all students on the campuses where the study was conducted. Furthermore, we recommend a broader study covering all constituent colleges of the University of Malawi, before significant recommendations can be made. The study, however, points to significant problems that need to be addressed before they get out of control, such as alcoholism and sex without condoms.Key words: Malawi, AIDS, HIV, University of Malawi, college student

Effect of processing and oil type on carotene bioaccessibility in traditional foods prepared with flour and puree from orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes.

Consumption of Orange‐Fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) and products as source of provitamin A is being promoted to tackle vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in sub‐Saharan Africa. However, limited information is available on β‐carotene retention in foods and delivery after digestion. The study assessed carotene retention and bioaccessibility following in vitro digestion on traditional foods having OFSP among the ingredients. Sunflower oil, margarine and beef fat were evaluated on their effect on β‐carotene bioaccessibility. Porridge and chapatis were prepared with either OFSP puree or flours in the formulations. Carotene retention was highest in chapatis (83%) as compared to porridge (65%). Micerallisation efficiency of all‐trans β‐carotene was comparable between similar products but greater in chapatis (62%) than porridge (11%). Sunflower oil had the highest all‐trans β‐carotene bioaccessibility compared to margarine and beef fat. The results support the promotion of consumption of OFSP‐based products as good source of provitamin A to fight VAD

CH92/082 and TME 6 cassava clones officially released for farmer growing in Malawi

Cassava clones CH92/082, TME 6 and BA95/070 were evaluated against Mbundumali, Phoso, Mulola and Sauti as checks. These clones were evaluated at Makoka, Mkondezi, Baka and Kasinthula Research Stations that represented different agro ecologies and in Mzuzu ADD under farmers' conditions. The objective of cassava improvement programme in Malawi is to develop cassava varieties that are: high yielding per unit area of land; tolerant to major diseases (cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease) and pests (cassava green mite and cassava mealy bug), adaptable to local environmental conditions and acceptable by end-users