Information, Medium & Society: Twenty-Third International Conference on Publishing Studies

Abstract

Climate change and food insecurity are ongoing challenges in Malawi. Located in southeastern Africa, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and at disproportionately higher risk for suffering negative impacts due to climate change. As in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, traditional proverbs are often used in Malawi to express lived realities and to relay indigenous knowledge to subsequent generations. In our qualitative study, we conducted focus group and individual interviews with 83 participants in rural Malawi to solicit information about behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge related to nutrition, women’s empowerment, and gender equality. We began each interview by asking participants to share common proverbs or expressions related to hunger and nutrition. An indigenous-based theoretical framework centered our qualitative analysis, which yielded six themes: “showers have fallen,” “a black dog enters the home,” “a man is at the stomach,” “the hunger season,” “we lack peace in our hearts,” and “don’t stay with your hands hanging.” This traditional knowledge can provide insight into helping to address the underlying causes of food insecurity, including climate change.

Presenters

Anne Dressel
Director, Center for Global Health Equity; Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States