Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and the Anglican Church in Southern Malawi

Although research shows that a great percentage
of the Malawian population is quite knowledgeable about HIV/Aids
transmission and prevention, the epidemic still continues to kill at a
fast rate, and the government and other stakeholders including the faith
communities are continuously meeting the challenges of HIV/Aids. Many
women in Malawi have died, infected and affected by the HIV pandemic
because of, among other factors, a negative approach to their own
sexuality. Culture, economy, ethics and values do influence a woman’s
sexual health, consequently affecting the whole family.

In the mid
19th century when Christianity was introduced into Malawi, the
missionaries took great concern at improving people’s health. One such
mission was the Universities Mission to Central Africa as a pioneer of
the Anglican Church in Malawi. Since then to the present, the Church has
worked as a team with the government in the provision of medical
services in Malawi and in its fight against HIV/Aids This book therefore
looks at how adequately the Anglican Church in the Upper Shire Diocese
responds to the issue of women’s sexual reproductive health in the
context of HIV/Aids. Improving the status of women is not only a matter
of theology but of ethics, health and survival. This challenges churches
to change some of their attitudes and visions and to undertake new and
creative initiatives in their pastoral ministry.