Today, Malawi is said to have a population of slightly over 17 Million but experts project it to hit double by the year 2040, a development which will put a strain on the country’s resources such as land and resources.

Premila Bartlett who is Senior Family Planning and Reproductive Health Specialist at USAID says although Malawi has succeeded in increasing the use of modern family planning methods among married women from 7 percent in 1992 to 58 percent in 2016, there is need for increased sexual education and access to modern contraceptives among all sexually active people.

“The rapid population growth is a key development issue for the country. The total number of children that a woman decided to have is still high and this has contributed tremendously to the population boom,” she said.

She said early child bearing has also contributed to the population growth with girls as young as 15 years becoming mothers.

Bartlett however said added that USAID is working together with the Ministry of Health to improve the health of mothers and children to reduce the HIV prevalence rate and also reducing the rate of under five children dying.