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Table 1 General observations, changes in the community from past to present

From: Poverty and food security: drivers of insecticide-treated mosquito net misuse in Malawi

Positive changes

Negative changes

Roads are more developed making transportation easier

More/new health facilities are closer to their communities

More/new schools which are closer to their communities

Development in general is better, with family planning and safe motherhood initiatives

Climate/environment

Erratic rains and soil erosion have negatively affected farming practices and crop yields

Environmental degradation has increased: Trees are being cut for everything from fish drying racks to firewood and charcoal production. Cutting of trees also leads to erratic rains

Food security

Fish production in the lakes and rivers has decreased, negatively affecting livelihoods

Food is scarce

High population growth has strained resources leading to insufficient land for agricultural needs and overfishing

Health

Health outcomes are poorer, with more disease, not enough drugs (both quantity and effectiveness of current treatment), poor quality of care

Economics

Employment is scarce, especially amongst youth

Devaluation/depreciation of the Kwacha