HIV/AIDS: water and sanitation assessment of home-based care clients Malawi and Zambia

Updated - Saturday 10 November 2007

Field studies on water, sanitation and hygiene problems of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Malawi and Zambia show that in 70 to 80 per cent of the surveyed households the head of the household was infected. Their water and sanitation needs are severely unfulfilled. These are the striking outcomes of two assessments in 2006 on the adequacy of water, sanitation and hygiene in relation to home-based care (HBC) strategies for people living with HIV/AIDS in the two countries [1, 2]. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) conducted the assessments in two districts per country commissioned by the World Health Organization. WHO wanted field research to produce evidence-based guidance on water and sanitation needs in home-based care strategies, particularly in resource-poor situations. This 2006 assessment is the first known work of its kind to examine the current situation of HBC clients in Malawi.

Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Currently ranked 165 out of 177 on the Human Development Index (UNDP, 2005), Malawi also has an adult HIV prevalence rate of 12%. Malawi’s poverty, combined with its steady HIV prevalence, means that regular water and sanitation problems become even more acute. The situation in Zambia is only marginally better.

Other findings include:

  • the already vulnerable HBC population is regularly falling ill due to diarrhea;
  • other illnesses and effects of poor water quality are also evident among the HBC clients;
  • the HBC households are often required to travel long distances to their water sources, which is exceptionally difficult for ill clients;
  • the findings from the assessment verify that watsan is indeed an intervention area that merits additional attention within HBC programming. In addition, the findings indicate that national policy and attention is required to respond to these needs, as well as attention within HBC programming.

[1] Lockwood, K. ... [et al.] (2006). Water & sanitation assessment of home-based care clients in Malawi. Baltimore, MD, USA, Catholic Relief Services (CRS). 56 p. PDF file (1,092 KB)

[2] Kangamba, M. ... [et al.] (2006). Water & sanitation assessment of home-based care clients in Zambia. Baltimore, MD, USA, Catholic Relief Services (CRS). 55 p. PDF file (970 KB)

Related news: Caring for HIV-infected people in South Africa requires love, patience and 200 litres of water per day, Source Bulletin 48, May 2007

Related web sites: Catholic Relief Services - Water Sanitation ; IRC - Sanitation, water, hygiene and HIV/AIDS

Contact: CRS, USA, contact form

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