Survey ID Number
MWI_2013_MES_v01_M
Title
MDG Endline Survey 2013-2014
Sampling Procedure
The primary objective of the sample design for the MDG Endline was to produce statistically reliable estimates of most indicators, at the national level, for urban and rural areas, and for the twenty seven districts of the country: Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhatabay, Rumphi, Mzimba, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Ntchisi, Dowa Salima, Lilongwe, Mchinji, Dedza, Ntcheu, Mangochi, Machinga, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Mwanza, Thyolo, Mulanje, Phalombe, Chikhwawa, Nsanje, Balaka and Neno district. Urban and rural areas in each of the twenty seven districts were defined as the sampling strata.
A multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample.
The target sample size for the Malawi MDG Endline Survey was calculated as 1,050 households per district. For the calculation of the sample size, the key indicator used was 'Children under-five who received antimalaria treatment".
The number of households selected per cluster for the MES was determined as 25 households, based on a number of considerations, including the design effect, the budget available, and the time that would be needed per team to complete one cluster. Dividing the total number of households by the number of sample households per cluster, it was calculated that 42 sample clusters would need to be selected in each district.
Equal allocation of the total sample size to the twenty seven districts was used. Therefore, 42 clusters were allocated to each district except Blantyre and Lilongwe where 45 clusters were allocated to each to allow for a larger sample size because these two districts contain the major urban centers in the country, with the final sample size calculated as 28,500 households. In each district, the clusters (primary sampling units) were distributed to the urban and rural domains proportionally to the size of urban and rural populations in that district. The table below shows the allocation of clusters to the sampling strata.
The 2008 census frame was used for the selection of clusters. Census enumeration areas were defined as primary sampling units (PSUs), and were selected from each of the sampling strata by using systematic PPS (probability proportional to size) sampling procedures, based on the number of households in each enumeration area from the 2008 Population and Housing Census frame. The first stage of sampling was thus completed by selecting the required number of enumeration areas from each of the twenty-seven districts, separately for the urban and rural strata.
Since the sampling frame (the 2008 census) was not up-to-date, a new listing of households was conducted in all the sample enumeration areas prior to the selection of households. For this purpose, listing teams were formed who visited all of the selected enumeration areas and listed all households in the enumeration areas. Household listing was undertaken by 15 teams. In each team there were four listers, one supervisor and a driver. Listing started in July 2013 and was completed in October 2013.
Large EAs with 300 or more households were subdivided into 2 or 3 segments of which only one segment was selected randomly and listed. The procedure for segmentation was that upon arrival in a large EA that needed segmentation, the listing team first toured the EA and did a quick count to get the estimated number of households in the EA. It was important to adopt segment boundaries that were easily identifiable and selection of a sample segment was carried out as follows:
The team drew a location map of the entire EA. Using clear boundaries such as roads or rivers, the EA was divided into 2 or 3 segments of roughly equal size; on the location map of the EA the team showed the boundaries of the newly created segments and numbered the segments sequentially. For each segment, a quick count of the number of dwellings was done.
Using the Segmentation form the household lister recorded the identification information of the EA, the segment numbers, and the size of each segment in the appropriate areas provided such as the number of dwellings, percentage and cumulative percentage. Then the cumulative percentage was compared with the random number that was generated for each EA. The team selected the first segment for which the cumulative percentage was greater than or equal to the random number given.
Lists of households were prepared by the listing teams in the field for each enumeration area. The households were then sequentially numbered from 1 to n (the total number of households in each enumeration area) at the National Statistical Office, where the selection of 25 households in each enumeration area was carried out using random systematic selection procedures. The survey also included a questionnaire for individual men that was to be administered in one third of the sample of households, which were randomly selected for interviews with all eligible men.
The sampling procedures are more fully described in "Malawi MDG Endline Survey 2013-2014 - Final Report" pp.442-446.
Questionnaires
The questionnaires for the Generic MICS were structured questionnaires based on the MICS5 model questionnaire with some modifications and additions. Household questionnaires were administered in each household, which collected various information on household members including sex, age and relationship. The household questionnaire includes List of Household Members, Education, Child Labour, Child Discipline, Household Characteristics, Insecticide Treated Nets, Indoor Residual Spraying, Water and Sanitation, Handwashing, and Salt Iodization.
In addition to a household questionnaire, questionnaires were administered in each household for women age 15-49, men age 15-49 and children under age five. The questionnaire was administered to the mother or primary caretaker of the child.
The women's questionnaire includes Woman's Background, Access to Mass Media and Use of Information/Communication Technology, Fertility/Birth History, Desire for Last Birth, Maternal and Newborn Health, Post-natal Health Checks, Illness Symptoms, Contraception, Unmet Need, Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence, Marriage/Union, Sexual Behaviour, HIV/AIDS, Maternal Mortality, Tobacco and Alcohol Use, and Life Satisfaction.
The men's questionnaire includes Man's Background, Access to Mass Media and Use of Information/Communication Technology, Fertility, Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence, Marriage/Union, Sexual Behaviour, HIV/AIDS, Circumcision, Tobacco and Alcohol Use, and Life Satisfaction.
The children's questionnaire includes Child's Age, Birth Registration, Early Childhood Development, Breastfeeding and Dietary Intake, Immunization, Care of Illness, and Anthropometry.
The questionnaires are based on the MICS5 model questionnaire. From the MICS5 model English version, the questionnaires were customised and translated into Chichewa and Tumbuka and were pre-tested in Kasungu district during October 2013. Based on the results of the pre-test, modifications were made to the wording and translation of the questionnaires. In addition to the administration of questionnaires, fieldwork teams tested the salt used for cooking in the households for iodine content, observed the place for handwashing, and measured the weights and heights of children age under 5 years. Details and findings of these observations and measurements are provided in the respective sections of the report.