Chapter 1: Introduction 1.

1 Background and purpose

The WMS 2008 is the fourth Welfare Monitoring Survey in Malawi. The WMS is a follow-up of the Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire Survey (CWIQ) that was undertaken by the NSO in 2002. Unlike the CWIQ, which was basically a World Bank instrument, the WMS has been adapted to suit local requirements. The objective of the WMS is to provide rapid information on selected core indicators in the population that would enable monitoring changes on a yearly basis. More specifically, the objectives of the WMS are to provide: Indicators for monitoring the living conditions of people in the country Indicators for monitoring the attainment of the goals of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) and other development programmes like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) A regular database for socio-economic research The WMS is part of the Integrated Household Survey programme being implemented by the NSO. The programme includes the conduct of a comprehensive integrated household survey every five years and a lighter annual welfare monitoring survey between the five years. WMS 2008 is similar to WMS 2007 but different from other earlier WMS in that the sample size is representative at district level whereas in the other two WMS the results were representative at national and regional levels only. Emphasis in the WMS is placed on producing results as quickly as possible. Hence the design includes the start of data entry as soon as the first batches of questionnaires are received from the field. Optical scanning using the Eyes and Hands software contributed to the speeding up of data entry. 1

During data analysis, poverty predictors were derived from IHS2 data and these have been used to derive poverty updates from the WMS for the periods between successive rounds of the integrated household surveys. The WMS covered the following topics: Characteristics of household members Health Education Employment Housing condition and amenities Poverty predictors Child information: Births and anthropometrical measures, vaccination, malaria protection and treatment HIV/AIDS knowledge

1.2 About Malawi 1.2.1 Geography and population

Malawi is a landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa. She shares boundaries with Zambia to the Northwest, Tanzania to the North and Northeast and Mozambique to the East, South and Southwest. Malawi covers an area of 118,484 square kilometres of which 94,276 square kilometres are land. The country is known for its numerous species of orchids, and more fish species than any other inland water country in the world, with more than 500 found in Lake Malawi. The country is divided into three regions namely; Northern, Central, and Southern. There are 28 districts; six in the Northern Region, nine in the Central Region, and thirteen in the Southern Region. Administratively, the districts are subdivided into Traditional Authorities (T/As), presided over by chiefs. The Traditional Authorities are composed of villages. These are the smallest administrative units, and they are presided over by village headmen and headwomen. 2

1.2.2 Economy Malawi has a predominantly agricultural economy, and according to the 2008 Malawi Population and Housing Census about 87 percent live in the rural areas. The countrys main export commodities are tobacco, tea and sugar. 1.2.3 Political System The British ruled Malawi from 1891 to July 1964 under the Nyasaland Protectorate. In 1953, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was created, which consisted of three countries: Zimbabwe then Southern Rhodesia, Zambia then Northern Rhodesia and Malawi then Nyasaland. Malawi became an independent state in July 1964 and gained her republican status in July 1966. Malawi became a multiparty state in 1994 following a national referendum in 1993. Currently, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) are the three main political parties represented in the National Assembly.

1.3 Implementation of the survey

The main aim of this chapter is to briefly describe all the steps taken to implement the 2008 Welfare Monitoring Survey. 1.3.1 Survey Organization The survey administration was at three levels: Central Management; National Supervisors; and enumerators and data processors. 1.3.1.1 Central Management: Management was done by a team of senior officers at NSO. This team was also responsible for technical and administrative tasks throughout the survey. 1.3.1.2 National supervisors: Supervision is a crucial element in the implementation of a survey. 3

A team of National supervisors was responsible for the overall supervision which focused on progress of the fieldwork, ensuring conformity of data collection and quality control. 1.3.1.3 Enumerators and data processors: Ten Mobile teams carried out the survey work. Each team consisted of 6 enumerators, and a field team supervisor who reported to the National Supervisors. Each team was allocated a vehicle with space for 6-7 people. There were sixty enumerators engaged during the survey to collect information in the field of which nine of them were permanent staff from Agriculture Division of NSO. The rest were temporary enumerators from the 2004/05 Integrated Household Survey (IHS2) and other Welfare Monitoring Surveys. 1.3.2 Sample design As stated earlier, the sample for WMS was drawn with the intention to ensure representativeness of results at district level. WMS 2008 sample was drawn from the National census of Agriculture and Livestock [NACAL] 20006/07 sample. NACAL contained 25 000 households and 1660 Enumeration Areas [EAs] across the country drawn as a two stage design. To utilize the NACAL resources, the WMS 2008 sample consisted of 999 EAs, 18 households per EA. Since the EAs were from NACAL, there was no listing of the households. This greatly reduced the cost of the survey. More EAs were included in the sample so as to provide estimates at district level. Sampling of the households was with replacement. 1.3.2.1 Stratification. Stratification is aimed at improving the quality of estimates in the population as a whole. The principle of stratification is simple; it consists of dividing the universe of investigation into homogeneous groups before the selection of the sample. Each statistical unit belonging to one and only one stratum. The country was stratified according to districts.

1.3.2.4 Weights: It may be observed from the design above that the sample of WMS is not self weighting. A set of household weights has been calculated to obtain unbiased estimates at national, regional and district levels. WMS provides reliable estimates at the national level, regional level and at district level. 1.3.3 Survey instruments A questionnaire was used to collect information about each and every individual in the households selected for the survey. The questionnaire was to a large extent similar to the other WMS questionnaires, to ascertain that important information on demography, health, education, employment, poverty and child health and nutritional status is comparable between the two surveys. As in the previous WMSs, electronic scales were used for weighing under five children, while measuring boards were used to get their heights. This anthropometrical information was used to assess the nutritional status of children in Malawi. 1.3.4 Training Training of field staff for the main Welfare Monitoring Survey was conducted over a 2 week period in August 2008. Since the enumerators were already experienced in field work, the training concentrated on the content of the questionnaire and practice in weighing and measuring of under five children. 1.3.5 Data collection Data collection commenced in August 2008 and was completed in November 2008. 1.3.6 Data processing Data processing for this WMS involved: Scanning and editing of questionnaires, using Eyes and Hands software Consistency checks and data cleaning in SPSS Designing tabulation programs in SPSS Final table editing in Microsoft Excel.

1.4

Executive Summary

The tables 1.1 to 1.9 below contain the main social indicators provided by the Welfare Monitoring Survey 2008 that can be used to describe and monitor the socio-economic conditions of the Malawian population over time. More detailed information on all indicators can be found in the subsequent chapters of the publication. Also included in the tables is a comparison between results obtained for the same indicators in the WMS 2005, WMS 2006 and WMS 2007 in order to analyse changes over time. 1.4.1 Population The 2008 Welfare Monitoring Survey results show: A young population: almost half are under 15 years (46 percent) Slightly fewer males than females: 96 males for every 100 females The proportion of orphans among children aged 20 years and below decreased from 17 percent in 2007 to 15 percent in 2008.

Table 1.1: Population and households. Main indicators 2005 to 2008

WMS 2005 WMS 2006 WMS 2007 WMS 2008

INDICATOR Population Age <15 15-64 65+ Sex ratio Percentage living in urban areas Proportion of orphans among children ( 20 years and below) Households Percentage female-headed households Proportion of households headed by Children under 20 Person 65 and above Dependency ratio (under 15 + 65 and above as ratio of 15-64) Total Urban Rural Percentage of households with deaths last year Total Urban Rural

46 50 4 96 13 20 25 1 14 1.03 .80 1.07 9 6 9

47 49 4 98 12 15 23 1 13 1.02 0.84 1.07 8 6 9

46 50 4 96 11 17 28 1 13 1.12 .83 1.15 6 4 6

47 49 4 96 15 25 1 13 1.17 0.85 1.21 8 5 8

1.4.2 Health The Welfare Monitoring Survey, 2008 indicates that: The proportion of people who were sick or injured the last 2 weeks before the survey period in 2008 has remained constant at 12 percent, as recorded in 2007. There also is no change in the proportion of people who had visited a health provider whether they had been sick or not from 2007 to 2008, recorded at 11 percent. The proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel has slightly increased from 66 percent in 2007 to 67 percent in 2008.

Table 1.2: Main Health indicators 2005 to 2008 WMS WMS INDICATOR 2005 2006 Proportion who were sick/injured last 2 weeks Proportion who visited health provider Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel 13 11 59 14 11 62

WMS 2007 12 11 66

WMS 2008 12 11 67

1.4.3 Education The Welfare Monitoring Survey 2008 shows: Adult literacy rate has been constant at 70 percent in 2007 to 2008. Female literacy rate has also been constant at 60 percent in 2007 to 2008. Literacy rates for the 15 24 year olds was recorded at 82 percent, showing no change from that of 2007. Female literacy rate for the 15 24 year olds increased from 79 percent in 2007 to 80 percent in 2008. Net primary school enrolment rate increased from 75 percent in 2007 to 79 percent in 2008.

Table 1.3: Main Education Indicators 2005 to 2008 INDICATOR Adult literacy rate Female literacy rate Literacy rate of 15-24 years old Total Male Female Primary school Net enrolment rate Total Male Female Drop out rate Total Male Female Repetition rate Total Male Female Proportion having problems at school Access (percentage with less than 30 minutes walk Net primary school enrolment among orphans Gross primary school enrolment among orphans Access (percentage with less than 30 minutes walk) WMS 2005 65 54 78 81 74 WMS 2006 66 56 78 83 73 WMS 2007 70 60 82 85 79 WMS 2008 70 60 82 85 80

79 78 80 2 1 2 23 22 24 47 58 82 116 18

73 70 76 3 3 3 28 28 28 74 60 69 86 20

75 74 77 2 2 2 20 20 19 77 50 75 113 18

79 78 80 3 3 3 22 23 21 62 81 121 23

1.4.4 Housing conditions and amenities The Welfare Monitoring Survey 2008 indicates that: The proportion of households with safe drinking water increased from 72 percent in 2005 to 81 percent in 2007, and 2008 it is at 80 percent. The proportion of households with electricity as their main source of lighting has increased from 6 percent in 2005 to 8 percent in 2007 and slightly increased to 9 percent in 2008.

Table 1.4: Main Housing conditions and amenities Indicators 2005 to 2008 WMS WMS WMS IINDICATOR 2005 2006 2007 Proportion with safe drinking water Total 72 75 81 Urban 92 94 98 Rural 69 73 79 Proportion with electricity as main source of lighting Total 6 5 8 Urban 30 32 52 Rural 2 2 2

WMS 2008 80 94 78 9 40 3

1.4.5 Poverty Over the period covered by the WMS surveys from 2005 to 2008: Poverty has decreased from 50 percent in 2005 to 40 percent in 2007 and 2008 has still remained at 40 percent The proportion of ultra poor has decreased from 22 percent in 2005 to 15 percent in 2007 and has remained as such in 2008.
Table 1.5: Proportion of poor and ultra-poor Main 2008 IHS2 Poverty status 2004 Proportion poor 52 Malawi Urban 25 Rural .. Rural Northern region 56 Rural Central region 47 Rural Southern region 64 Proportion ultra-poor 22 Malawi Urban 8 Rural .. Rural Northern region 26 Rural Central region 16 Rural Southern region 32 indicators 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and WMS 2005 50 24 53 51 46 60 21 8 23 21 16 30 WMS 2006
45 25 47

WMS WMS 2007 2008

40 11 44 46 36 51 15 2 17 18 11 22 40 13 ???? 35 40 51 15 3 ?? 11 12 24

46 40 55
17 6 19

17 12 25

1.4.6 HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Testing The Welfare Monitoring Survey 2008 indicates that: The proportion of persons 15 years and above that had undergone an HIV/AIDS test last 12 months increased from 12 percent in 2005 to 22 percent in 2007 and to a high of 33 percent in 2008

The proportion of persons 15-24 year olds who had undergone an HIV/AIDS test last 12 months increased from 14 percent in 2005 to 24 percent in 2007 and to 36 percent in 2008

Table 1.7: HIV / AIDS Knowledge and Testing, Main indicators 2005, 2006 2007 and 2008 Indicator Proportion who had undergone an HIV test last 12 months 15 Years and above 15-24 Years WMS 2005 12 14 WMS 2006 20 22 WMS 2007 22 24 WMS 2008 33 36

1.4.7 Food Security The following information on food security at household level was collected:
Table 1.8 Indicators for food security Proportion of households that sold the staple food by September Reasons households sold staple food To pay loan Pay Expenses Had more than enough Other One meal Two meals Three meals

42 5 84 8 3 5 57 38 59

Proportion of households by number of meals taken /day

Proportion of households that received coupons to buy subsidized

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Total number of livestock by type and region Cattle Malawi Northern Central Southern 745,068 331,565 231,112 198,992 Goats 3,104,694 378,636 1,465,273 1,330,986 Sheep 104,343 16,347 59,476 30,887 Pigs 814,014 255,273 374,284 201,673 Chicken 9,411,244 1,835,766 4,052,874 3,722,222

1.4.8 Social Issues The following information social issues at household level was collected:
Table 1.9a Proportion of households by indicators on witchcraft belief Claims to have witches in the community 76 77 74 84 75 69 74 80 82 85 76 73 Knows someone accused of witchcraft 62 63 60 74 61 56 59 65 70 63 65 60
Experienced bad things that could be attributed to witchcraft

Malawi Sex of head Male Female Urban Rural Level of education: None Primary 1-5 Primary 6-8 Sec + Region: North Centre South

36 36 37 40 36 35 36 37 37 29 37 38

Taken steps to protect household member against witchcraft 28 28 28 30 27 30 27 28 26 13 29 29

Table 1. 9b Proportion of households by sex of their village head Malawi Male village head Female village head 88 12 Northern region 97 3 Central region 92 8 Southern region 82 18

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Table 1.9c Proportion of households by who participates in making decisions on Marriage and education of their children: Malawi
[1] Marriage

Northern region 36 35 43 28 12 11 91 76 87 86 42 35

Central region 26 26 44 37 25 24 87 70 82 83 33 29

Southern region 29 29 42 38 30 29 89 69 78 80 36 30

Household Head Husband Wife Uncle Aunt Other [2] Education Household Head Husband Wife Uncle Aunt Other

28 28 43 36 26 25 88 71 81 82 35 30

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