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Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015

Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 199 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1964 Population: 16,363,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 1.5% p.a. 1990–2013 GNI p.c.: US$270 (2013) UN HDI 2014: World ranking 174 Life expectancy: 55 years (2013) Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): 68 (2013) Largest contribution to mortality: HIV/AIDS Government health expenditure: 7% of GDP (2012) General information Malawi is a long, narrow south-east African country shaped by the dramatic Rift Valley, with Lake Malawi a dominant feature. It is bordered by Mozambique to the east, south and south-west; by Zambia to the north and north-west; and by the United Republic of Tanzania to the north and north-east. There are three regions: Northern (capital Mzuzu), Central (capital Lilongwe) and Southern (capital Blantyre). Climate: The tropical climate is tempered by altitude and cooler on the high plateaux. There are three seasons: a cool, dry season in mid-April–August; a warm, dry season September–November; and a rainy season (receiving 90 per cent of precipitation) December–April. Most of the country is well watered, receiving 800–2,500 mm of rain, with some areas in the high plateaux receiving 3,500 mm p.a. Environment: The most significant environmental issues are deforestation; soil degradation; and water pollution by agricultural run-off, sewage and industrial wastes. Population: 16,363,000 (2013); Malawi is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa but, with only 16 per cent of people living in towns, one of the least urbanised. The population growth rate stood at 2.4 per cent p.a. between the years of 1990 and 2013. In 2013 the birth rate was 40 per 1,000 people (56 in 1970) and life expectancy was 55 years (41 in 1970). The largest ethnic group is the Chewa, whose ancestors came from the Congo; the other main groups are Nyanja, Lomwe, Yao and Tumbuka. Economy: Malawi is classified as a low-income economy by the World Bank. Health Child and maternal health: Infant mortality in Malawi was 44 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013, with an under-five mortality rate of 68 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013. There has been a consistent dramatic decline in the under-five mortality rate since 1990. This decline is encouraging and the under-five mortality rate has now surpassed the country’s target of 82 deaths per 1,000 live births as defined by Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4). In 2010 the three most prominent known causes of death for children below the age of five years were malaria (15 per cent), acute respiratory infections (13 per cent), prematurity (12 per cent) and HIV/AIDS (12 per cent). Other contributory causes were intrapartum-related complications (11 per cent), diarrhoea (eight per cent), neonatal sepsis (seven per cent), injuries (five per cent), congenital anomalies (five per cent) and measles (one per cent). In 2013 Malawi had an adjusted maternal mortality ratio of 510 deaths per 100,000 live births (this figure was estimated at 460 deaths per 100,000 by UN agencies/World Bank in 2010). Burden of disease: Communicable diseases along with maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions accounted for an estimated 65 per cent of all mortality in Malawi in 2012. The prevalence of HIV in Malawi, as a percentage of people aged 15–49 years, stood at Malawi


Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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