The first case of AIDS was diagnosed in Malawi in 1985 at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe after which HIV prevalence grew quite rapidly. Malawi started monitoring HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the late 1980s. At the start of this surveillance, the HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal clinics was approximately 2% but then rose to 26 percent by 1998. According to UNAIDS/WHO estimates for 2007 adult HIV prevalence in Malawi is 11.9%. 930,000 people were living with HIV at the end of 2007.
HIV prevalence among 15-49 years old has remained stable over the last 9 years: in 2003 it was 14.4% dropping to 12% in 2007.
There were 101,000 people on antiretroviral treatment at the end of 2007 which is equivalent to 35% coverage.
