Demographic and Health Survey 2024
Malawi, 2024
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MWI_2024_DHS_v01_M
Demographic and Health Survey 2024
MDHS/ DHS 2024
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Malawi | MWI |
Demographic and Health Survey [hh/dhs]
The 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS 2024) is the sixth DHS survey conducted in Malawi, following those implemented in 1992, 2000, 2004, 2010, and 2015–16. A nationally representative sample of 792 clusters and approximately 23,760 households was selected. As with the prior surveys, the main objective of the MDHS 2024 was to provide up-to-date information on fertility and childhood mortality levels; fertility preferences; awareness, approval, and use of family planning methods; maternal and child health; domestic violence; and knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.
The 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (2024 MDHS) was implemented by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH). Data collection took place from 12 May to 31 August 2024. ICF provided technical assistance through The DHS Program, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and offers financial support and technical assistance for population and health surveys in countries worldwide.
The primary objective of the 2024 MDHS is to provide up-to-date estimates of basic demographic and health indicators. Specifically, the survey collected information on:
- fertility levels and preferences and contraceptive use
- maternal and child health
- infant, child, and neonatal mortality levels
- maternal mortality
- awareness about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- availability of, access to, and use of mosquito nets as part of the National Malaria Control Programme
- other health issues such as tobacco and alcohol use and health insurance
- women’s empowerment
- domestic violence
- household food items and their micronutrient content
- child feeding practices, including breastfeeding
- nutritional status of children under age 5 and women ag 15–49
- water quality at the household level and the cluster level
The information collected through the 2024 MDHS is intended to assist policymakers and programme managers in evaluating and designing programmes and strategies for improving the health of the Malawian population. The survey also provides data on indicators relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Malawi.
Sample survey data [ssd]
- Household
- Individual
- Children age 0-5
- Woman age 15-49
- Man age 15-54
Version
The data dictionary was generated from hierarchical data that was downloaded from the The DHS Program website (http://dhsprogram.com).
- Contract Phase: DHS-8
- Recode Structure: DHS-8
Scope
The 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey covered the following topics:
HOUSEHOLD
• Usual members and visitors in the selected households
• Background information on each person listed, such as relationship to head of the household, age, sex, marital status, survivorship and residence of biological parents, ever attended school, current/recent school attendance, and disability.
• Characteristics of the household's dwelling unit, such as the source of water, type of toilet facilities and where it is located, type of fuel used for cooking, main source of light for the home, type of fuel used for cooking, number of rooms, ownership of livestock, possessions of durable goods, and main material for the floor, roof and walls of the dwelling.
• Mosquito nets
INDIVIDUAL WOMAN
• Background characteristics: age, date of birth, migration, literacy, education, access to media, mobile phone use, use of the internet
• Reproduction: children ever fathered, attendance at antenatal care and delivery for the most recent child under age 24 months
• Contraception: knowledge of contraception, family planning, discussion of family planning with a health provider, knowledge of the risk of pregnancy, attitude towards women who use contraception
• Marriage and sexual activity: marital status, age at first marriage, number of unions, age at first sexual intercourse, recent sexual activity, number and types of sexual partners, use of condoms, contraceptive use during most recent sex
• Fertility preferences: desire for more children, ideal number of children, gender preferences
• Employment and gender roles: employment, source of earnings and decisions about use of earnings, house and land ownership, attitude towards wife beating
• HIV: knowledge of HIV and means of transmission, sources of information, behaviour to avoid STIs and HIV, stigma, history of HIV testing
• Other health issues: circumcision, smoking and alcohol use, health insurance coverage
INDIVIDUAL MAN
• Background characteristics: age, date of birth, migration, literacy, education, access to media, mobile phone use, use of the internet
• Reproduction: children ever fathered, attendance at antenatal care and delivery for the most recent child under age 24 months
• Contraception: knowledge of contraception, family planning, discussion of family planning with a health provider, knowledge of the risk of pregnancy, attitude towards women who use contraception
• Marriage and sexual activity: marital status, age at first marriage, number of unions, age at first sexual intercourse, recent sexual activity, number and types of sexual partners, use of condoms, contraceptive use during most recent sex
• Fertility preferences: desire for more children, ideal number of children, gender preferences
• Employment and gender roles: employment, source of earnings and decisions about use of earnings, house and land ownership, attitude towards wife beating
• HIV: knowledge of HIV and means of transmission, sources of information, behaviour to avoid STIs and HIV, stigma, history of HIV testing
• Other health issues: circumcision, smoking and alcohol use, health insurance coverage
BIOMARKER
• Weight, height, hemoglobin, and malaria testing for children age 0-4
• Weight, height, and micronutrient testing for women age 15-49
FOOD FORTIFICATION AND WATER QUALITY
• Food fortification coverage
• MICS7 module for water testing
FIELDWORKER
• Background information on each fieldworkers
Coverage
National coverage
The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents), all women aged 15-49, all men aged 15-54, and all children aged 0-4 resident in the household.
Producers and sponsors
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| National Statistical Office (NSO) | Government of Malawi |
| Name | Abbreviation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| ICF | The DHS Program | Provided technical assistance through The DHS Program |
| Utica International | Provided technical assistance for final report preparation. |
| Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Government of Malawi | Govt. MWI |
| United States Agency for International Development | USAID |
| World Bank Group | WBG |
| United Nations Children’s Fund | UNICEF |
| United Nations Population Fund | UNFPA |
| United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization | UNESCO |
| United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees | UNHCR |
| World Health Organization | WHO |
| UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | FCDO |
| KfW Development Bank of Germany | |
| Global Affairs Canada | |
| European Commission | |
| Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria | GF |
| WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme | JMP |
| African Institute for Development Policy | AFIDEP |
| Gates Foundation |
Sampling
The sampling frame used for the 2024 MDHS is the frame of the 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census, conducted by the NSO. The sampling procedure was a stratified two-stage cluster sampling procedure designed to yield representative results at the national level, for urban and rural areas, and for each of the 32 domains (28 districts and four cities). An additional sampling domain (domain 33) comprising 24 clusters was designed for the Dzaleka refugee camp.
In the first stage, the target clusters were selected from the sampling frame using probability proportional to size for urban and rural areas in each domain. Then the target number of clusters was selected (with equal probability) via systematic random sampling of the clusters selected in the first phase for the urban and rural areas in each domain. In the second stage, after selection of the clusters, a household listing and map-updating operation was carried out in all of the selected clusters to develop a list of the households in the cluster. This list served as a sampling frame for selecting the household sample.
For further details on sample design, see Appendix A of the final report.
A total of 23,070 households were selected for the MDHS sample, of which 22,611 were found to be occupied. Of the occupied households, 22,414 were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 99%. In the interviewed households, 21,661 women age 15–49 were identified as eligible for individual interviews. Interviews were completed with 20,849 women, yielding a response rate of 96%. In the subsample of households selected for the male survey, 9,653 men age 15–54 were identified as eligible for individual interviews and 8,583 were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 89%.
Design weights were adjusted for household nonresponse and individual nonresponse to obtain the sampling weights for households, women, and men. All nonresponses were adjusted at the stratum level. The differences between household sampling weights and individual sampling weights were introduced by correction of individual nonresponses. The final sampling weights were normalized to obtain the total number of unweighted cases equal to the total number of weighted cases at the national level, for both household weight and individual weight, respectively. Normalized weights are relative weights that are valid for estimating means, proportions, and ratios but are not valid for estimations based on pooled data or for estimating population totals.
For further details on sampling weights, see Appendix A.4 of the final report.
Survey instrument
The 2024 MDHS used four questionnaires: the Household Questionnaire, the Woman’s Questionnaire, the Man’s Questionnaire, and the Biomarker Questionnaire. The questionnaires were based on The DHS Program’s model questionnaires and were adapted to reflect the population and health issues relevant to Malawi. In addition, a self-administered Fieldworker Questionnaire collected information about the survey’s fieldworkers. Input was solicited from stakeholders who represented government ministries and agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and international donors. After the preparation of the definitive questionnaires in English, the questionnaires were translated into Chichewa and Tumbuka. All four questionnaires were programmed into tablet computers to facilitate computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) for data collection and to offer the option to choose English, Chichewa, or Tumbuka for each questionnaire.
Data collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2024-05-12 | 2024-08-31 |
- Face-to-face computer-assisted interviews [capi]
The main field data collection for the 2024 MDHS occurred from 12 May to 31 August 2024. Each of the 33 teams included a team supervisor, three female interviewers, one male interviewer, and three biomarker technicians. The NSO coordinators created a WhatsApp group for all fieldworkers to post questions and issues arising during data collection. Staff from The DHS Program participated in fieldwork monitoring during the early stages of the field data collection, and they then continued to monitor data collection via SyncCloud towards the end of fieldwork. All teams transmitted data to the central office daily, and staff from The DHS Program had continuous access to field check tables in SyncCloud. Staff from The DHS Program reviewed the field check tables periodically and communicated their observations to the NSO coordinators to evaluate data quality and the performance of each team as well as explain how to improve the quality of fieldwork.
Data processing
On 12 May 2024, staff from The DHS Program installed all central office programmes and executed data structure checks, secondary editing, and field check tables. Central office training was implemented using the practice data to test the central office system and field check tables. Seven NSO staff members (four male and three female) received training on the functionality of the central office menu, including accepting clusters from the field, data editing procedures, and producing reports to monitor fieldwork.
From 26 September to 16 October 2024, staff from The DHS Program visited the NSO office in Zomba to work with NSO’s central office staff to finish secondary editing as well as clean and finalize all data received from the clusters.
Data appraisal
The estimates from a sample survey are affected by two types of errors: (1) non-sampling errors and (2) sampling errors. Non-sampling errors are the results of mistakes made in implementing data collection and data processing, such as failure to locate and interview the correct household, misunderstanding of the questions on the part of either the interviewer or the respondent, and data entry errors. Although numerous efforts were made during the implementation of the 2024 MDHS to minimize this type of error, non-sampling errors are impossible to avoid and difficult to evaluate statistically.
Sampling errors, on the other hand, can be evaluated statistically. The sample of respondents selected in the 2024 MDHS is only one of many samples that could have been selected from the same population, using the same design and identical size. Each of these samples would yield results that differ somewhat from the results of the actual sample selected. Sampling errors are a measure of the variability between all possible samples. Although the degree of variability is not known exactly, it can be estimated from the survey results. A sampling error is usually measured in terms of the standard error for a particular statistic (mean, percentage, etc.), which is the square root of the variance. The standard error can be used to calculate confidence intervals within which the true value for the population can reasonably be assumed to fall. For example, for any given statistic calculated from a sample survey, the value of that statistic falls within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error of that statistic in 95% of all possible samples of identical size and design.
If the sample of respondents had been selected as a simple random sample, it would have been possible to use straightforward formulas for calculating sampling errors. However, the 2024 MDHS sample was the result of a multistage stratified design, and, consequently, it was necessary to use more complex formulas. The computer software used to calculate sampling errors for the MDHS 2024 is an SAS program. This program used the Taylor linearization method to estimate variances for survey estimates that are means, proportions, or ratios. The Jackknife repeated replication method is used for variance estimation of more complex statistics such as fertility and mortality rates.
Data Access
| Name | URL |
|---|---|
| The DHS Program | https://dhsprogram.com |
Request Dataset Access
The following applies to DHS, MIS, AIS and SPA survey datasets (Surveys, GPS, and HIV).
To request dataset access, you must first be a registered user of the website. You must then create a new research project request. The request must include a project title and a description of the analysis you propose to perform with the data.
The requested data should only be used for the purpose of the research or study. To request the same or different data for another purpose, a new research project request should be submitted. The DHS Program will normally review all data requests within 24 hours (Monday - Friday) and provide notification if access has been granted or additional project information is needed before access can be granted.
DATASET ACCESS APPROVAL PROCESS
Access to DHS, MIS, AIS and SPA survey datasets (Surveys, HIV, and GPS) is requested and granted by country. This means that when approved, full access is granted to all unrestricted survey datasets for that country. Access to HIV and GIS datasets requires an online acknowledgment of the conditions of use.
Required Information
A dataset request must include contact information, a research project title, and a description of the analysis you propose to perform with the data.
Restricted Datasets
A few datasets are restricted and these are noted. Access to restricted datasets is requested online as with other datasets. An additional consent form is required for some datasets, and the form will be emailed to you upon authorization of your account. For other restricted surveys, permission must be granted by the appropriate implementing organizations, before The DHS Program can grant access. You will be emailed the information for contacting the implementing organizations. A few restricted surveys are authorized directly within The DHS Program, upon receipt of an email request.
When The DHS Program receives authorization from the appropriate organizations, the user will be contacted, and the datasets made available by secure FTP.
GPS/HIV Datasets/Other Biomarkers
Because of the sensitive nature of GPS, HIV and other biomarkers datasets, permission to access these datasets requires that you accept a Terms of Use Statement. After selecting GPS/HIV/Other Biomarkers datasets, the user is presented with a consent form which should be signed electronically by entering the password for the user's account.
Dataset Terms of Use
Once downloaded, the datasets must not be passed on to other researchers without the written consent of The DHS Program. All reports and publications based on the requested data must be sent to The DHS Program Data Archive in a Portable Document Format (pdf) or a printed hard copy.
Download Datasets
Datasets are made available for download by survey. You will be presented with a list of surveys for which you have been granted dataset access. After selecting a survey, a list of all available datasets for that survey will be displayed, including all survey, GPS, and HIV data files. However, only data types for which you have been granted access will be accessible. To download, simply click on the files that you wish to download and a "File Download" prompt will guide you through the remaining steps.
Recommended citations are available at https://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/Recommended-Citations.cfm
Disclaimer and copyrights
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Information about The DHS Program | The DHS Program | reports@DHSprogram.com |
| General Inquiries | The DHS Program | info@dhsprogram.com |
| Data and Data Related Resources | The DHS Program | archive@dhsprogram.com |
Metadata production
DDI_MWI_2024_DHS_v01_M
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Data Group | DECDG | World Bank Group | Documentation of the survey |
2026-03-18T04:00:00.000Z
Metadata version
Version 01 (March 2026). Metadata is excerpted from Angola "Malawi Demographic and Health Survey 2024" final report.