Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death globally, the majority of these being due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, or diabetes. Mortality from many non-communicable diseases continues to increase worldwide, with a disproportionately larger impact in low-middle income countries, where almost 75% of global deaths occur from these causes. As a low income African country that consistently ranks amongst the world’s poorest nations, Malawi as a case study demonstrates how transition due to societal change and increasing urbanization is often accompanied by a rise in the rate of non-communicable diseases. Other factors apart from changing lifestyle factors can explain at least some of this increase, such as the complex relationship between communicable and non-communicable disease and growing environmental, occupational and cultural pressures.
Malawi and other low-middle income countries are struggling to manage the increasing challenge of non-communicable diseases, in addition to an already high communicable disease burden. However, healthcare policy implementation, specific health promotion campaigns and further epidemiological research may be key to attenuating this impending health crisis, both in Malawi and elsewhere. This review aims to examine the effects of the major non-communicable diseases in Malawi to help inform future public healthcare policy in the region.