Condom use among sexually active people aged 15 to 49 remains low in Malawi, as only 48 percent of the group used condoms this year, according to the National AIDS Commission (NAC).

In a written response, NAC Spokesperson Grace khombe attributed the low use of condoms to over-reliance on free condoms, a low perceived risk of infection, limited condom education, among other factors.

khombe added that the commission is currently stabilizing the condom market to ensure that subsidized and commercial condoms are readily available to everyone, while also considering innovative ways to distribute and sell condoms without human contact.

Meanwhile, the Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) Executive Director, George Jobe, urged the nation to take the matter very seriously, noting that the percentage is low and calling for urgent action.

"As a country, we need to take these findings seriously, as the percentage is too low, which means many people are not using protection when having sex," Jobe said.

According to NAC, about 161 million condoms were distributed in 2024.