Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (Meiru) says there is need for long-term research in addressing growing concerns of physical health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and mental health in the country.
Speaking during the screening of a documentary titled Growing Up in Malawi: Journey to Motherhood’ hosted by the British High Commission on Thursday, Meiru director Mia Crampin said the documentary is part of the study called Generation Malawi which tracks the impact of maternal and early-life health on children’s long-term physical and mental well-being which affects them later in life.
She added that the study is part of a broader study called Health Lives which aims to establish a multi-generational family and birth cohort in Malawi as part of a cross-sectional long-term health conditions survey, among others.
systems and delivery
Said Crampin: “We are keen to find out more about why so many people are getting diabetes and hypertension in Malawi.
Then we are also seeing these conditions in young people but there is something about the early life of people which predisposes them to a higher risk of these conditions”
“There, is also very little research on mental health but we see that suicide cases are increasing, depression and anxiety are common, so these
are some of the gaps that we aim to tackle through these studies.”
The Meiru director further stressed on the need for adequate research funding for such studies, saying funding is crucial when it comes to longitudinal population studies.
In an interview, Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Samson Mndolo, who was the guest of honour, acknowledged the critical role that research plays in guiding health strategies and shaping future health interventions.
“Studies like these provide the evidence needed to develop policies targeting health conditions whose understanding remains limited without such evidence. With evidence it is likely to generate effective, evidence-based interventions to address the conditions,” he said.
British High Commissioner Fiona Ritchie said the United Kingdom Government’ s investment in the health sector aims at improving systems and delivery, noting that such research will help the Malawi Government understand the grass roots of health conditions based on evidence.
“Research will likely provide the kind of interventions and policies that need to be focused on if the health systems are to improve in the country,” she said.
As of 2024, the study, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UK universities, has enrolled 2 000 women and their partners, with over 1 500 babies even though it aims to track 5 000 families over the long term.
