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Item type:Item, Analysis of behaviour change ideological dynamics beyond open defecation free certification: A pathway to sustainable sanitation in Balaka, Malawi.(2026-01) Kamwana, LastonMalawi adopted the Community-Led Total Sanitation behaviour-change approach to align with global sanitation standards and eliminate open defecation. Balaka became the first Open Defecation-Free (ODF) Model District, achieving latrine and hand-washing facility (HWF) usage rates above the 95% national guideline. However, within a year, the district experienced an 11% ODF slippage, raising concerns about the sustainability of behaviour change. This study assessed post-ODF behaviour change dynamics by examining community knowledge, attitudes, practices, stages of change, and change determinants. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods design was guided by the SaniFOAMS framework, the Socio-Ecological Model, and the Trans-theoretical Model of Behaviour Change. Data were collected through household interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and direct observations. Quantitative data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS (V.25), while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Binary logistic regression and Chi-square tests assessed associations and predictors of ODF sustainability. Findings show that although communities demonstrated adequate CLTS knowledge and positive attitudes towards ODF, key hygiene indicators fell below national standards. Pit latrine coverage (89%) and usage (95.7%) were relatively high, yet HWF availability (36.5%) and hand-washing with soap (HWWS) (24.9%) remained far below the 95% guideline. Limited commitment to HWF construction and HWWS after defecation was the gap. Personal, social, technical, institutional, cultural, and religious factors significantly influenced HWF construction and HWWS (p < 0.05), while cultural and religious beliefs also affected latrine usage (p < 0.05). Overall, progression in hygiene-related behaviour change was minimal. Strengthening skills, improving access to construction materials and enhancing routine monitoring, ODF re-verification and re-certification are critical to reinforce and sustaining behaviour change post ODF-certification in Balaka.Item type:Item, Spatio-temporal variability in water quality and macroinvertebrates assemblage of Lunyangwa river, northern Malawi.(2026-01) Lali, AishaFreshwater ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing severe degradation due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, and poor sanitation, threatening the ecosystem services that riparian communities depend on. This study examined how land use affects water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Lunyangwa River, Mzuzu City, Northern Malawi. Macroinvertebrates and water quality parameters were sampled at nine stations across three land use types (forested, agricultural, and urban; n=3 each) during dry (Oct-Nov 2024) and rainy (Feb Apr 2025) seasons. Data were analyzed using diversity indices, water quality standards, and multivariate statistics to assess spatial and temporal variation. Urban stations showed the most severe degradation, with very poor water quality (WQI: 186.40–204.25), lowest dissolved oxygen (3.07 ± 2.74 mg/L), highest biochemical oxygen demand (4.73 ± 1.17 mg/L), and macroinvertebrate communities dominated by pollution-tolerant taxa like Bellamya capillata and Tanypodinae, resulting in low diversity (Shannon H = 0.96). Agricultural stations displayed intermediate conditions, while forested stations maintained the highest water quality and macroinvertebrate diversity. Land use was the primary driver of variation in both water quality and macroinvertebrate composition, with temperature, dissolved oxygen, BOD, pH, conductivity, and salinity differing significantly among land-use types, while seasonal effects were minimal. The findings demonstrate that macroinvertebrates are effective bioindicators of water quality and provide scientific evidence for urgent conservation interventions, including riparian zone protection, improved wastewater treatment, and regular biomonitoring programs for sustainable river basin management in the Lunyangwa River and similar African freshwater systems.Item type:Item, Rethinking Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s ‘Discriminatory’ Practices against the People of Northern Malawi(Makerere University, 2025-12) Njoloma, EugenioThis article challenges existing scholarship that portrays Malawi’s first leader, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, as responsible for the alienation of the people of Northern Malawi. It argues that Banda’s policy choices were pursued to enhance national unity by eradicating ethnic and regional disparities in public spaces. Situated within a historical study design, this article approached qualitatively, using both primary and secondary data to support this perspective. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, archival research, and desk research. Evidence suggests that events such as language policy changes in 1968, changes in the education sector in 1969, 1987, and 1989, and the transfer of government seat from Zomba to Lilongwe in 1975 have been analytically inconsequential in justifying Banda’s perceived ‘discriminatory’ practices against the people of Northern Malawi. Nevertheless, the portrayal of Banda as having been discriminatory affected relations among the people of Malawi’s three regions, since his policy choices and actions were said to be motivated by his desire to uplift his Chewa ethnic identity.Item type:Item, Awareness, Perceptions and Adoption Factors of Point-of-Use Water Treatment in High-Density Areas of Mzuzu City(2024) Mkandawire, Wongani MzotaThis study assessed awareness, perceptions and adoption factors of point-of-use water treatment in high density areas of Mzuzu City, Malawi, Africa, focusing on Mzilawayingwe, Chiputula, Zolozolo West, Luwinga, and Lupaso wards. The study aimed to comprehend the factors impeding POU water treatment adoption in high-density areas. A mixed methods approach was utilized, combining quantitative and qualitative data obtained through household surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). The researcher administered a survey to 322 households, organized 5 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) [one in each ward], and held 5 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The findings revealed high awareness and positive receptiveness to POU water treatment in high-density areas. Socio-economic factors such as location, education, income, and assets significantly influenced awareness. Preferences for treatment methods were shaped by community dynamics, household assets, and health centre proximity. Adoption factors included self-efficacy, cues for action, and action efficacy, addressing barriers such as the perception of tap water cleanliness among higher income levels. The study concluded that POU water treatment had the potential to enhance the quality of life in high-density areas if barriers were addressed and benefits were communicated effectively. The complex interplay of socio-economic factors, community dynamics, and individual beliefs highlighted the need for targeted interventions. The recommendations called for further research in diverse urban settings, inclusive advocacy strategies by public health practitioners, and the development of affordable, and effective POU water treatment products.Item type:Item, Level of comprehensive knowledge about HIV & AIDS among university students in Malawi(Elsevier, 2026) Tenthani, Wezzie Munthali; Kapute, Fanuel; Msiska, Ulemu; Benard, ShaibuMalawi continues to face a substantial HIV burden. However, little empirical evidence from a multi-institutional, nationally representative point of view exists on the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge among university students, a population that is vulnerable and central to national HIV prevention goals. This study addressed the gap by assessing the levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge and associated factors among full-time undergraduate students across six public and private universities in Malawi. A cross-sectional survey involving 526 students was conducted using stratified random sampling and a self-administered questionnaire, with data analysed through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and t-tests. Findings showed that students possessed a generally high level of HIV/AIDS knowledge (82.3 %), with significant differences observed by sex, programme of study, and year of study. Knowledge of behavioural prevention measures was strong, yet notable gaps remained, particularly regarding biomedical prevention methods such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and misconceptions about sterilised needle sharing and non-sexual transmission. These findings indicate that while progress has been made in HIV awareness, important knowledge deficits persist, especially in emerging HIV science. The study contributes new evidence that can inform the design of structured, standardised, and integrated HIV education within higher-learning institutions. Strengthening HIV knowledge among university students is essential for reducing vulnerability to new infections and directly contributes to national and global targets, including SDG 3.3 on ending AIDS by 2030 and Agenda 2063 aspirations for healthy and well-nourished citizens.