Abstract: Nowhere has the family’s important role in ensuring optimal development of
people been seriously put into disrepute. Since time immemorial, the family has endured the
impact of socioeconomic and political challenges and it is still regarded as pivotal in the
development of cultures and nations (Emran, 2009). Apart from reproduction, socialization,
production, consumption, accumulation and social networking, and care for vulnerable
groups, families are important in intergenerational transfers such as material, cultural values
and social capital. In spite of these notable values, modernization and industrialization
continue to alter the traditional systems leading to emergence of new family forms. Malawi
has one of the highest rates of single families, within the Sub-Saharan Africa region,
especially among women, with a rate as high as 61% by the time a woman reaches 45 years
of age. Further, about 56% of children under the age of 15 were not co-resident with both
parents. Unstable families are associated with several wider negative outcomes such as poor
economic and health outcomes to individual, communities and nations at large. Despite such
challenges, it is surprising that little attention has been paid to fully analyse factors that are
causing such changes in the family. Thus, the aim of this paper was to identify the levels and
trends and assesses the demographic, socioeconomic and cultural factors associated with
family structure in Malawi between 2000 and 2010. The study was motivated by inadequate
literature and scientific knowledge on the scope of the impacts of different factors which have
caused changes to family arrangements over time.
Study Method: Two data sets were employed in this study. These data sets were extracted
from the Malawi Demographic Heath Survey for the year 2000 and 2010. The unit of analysis
was women aged 15-49 years of age from different households. In order to identify trends,
the Chi2 square test was used. As for measuring the association between the various
demographic and socioeconomic factors and family structure, the Multinomial Logistic
Regression model was used.
Results: The study reveals that there was a 2.5% increase in the rate of single families
between 2000 and 2010. Further, the inferential results shows that age of household head is
statistically associated with changing family structure in Malawi in the year(s) 2000 and 2010
for both the nuclear and extended family categories (p-value 0.000). In addition, being in the
age bracket (25-39) has a higher statistical assocition with changing family structure in both
x
2000 and 2010 (p-value 0.000). Further, belonging to households headed by a female is
statistcially associted with family structure in 2000 and 2010 for both nuclear and extended
family (p-value 0.000).
The results also show that being a Muslim woman is statistically associated with family
structure in 2010 (p-value 0.039) but not in 2000. In terms of education, having primary and
secondary education is statiscally asocited with family strcuture [primary: 2000 and 2010 (pvalue
0.000 for both) secondary: 2000 and 2010 (p-value 0.001 for both). As for residence,
residing in rural area is statistically associated with family structure in Malawi (2000
(nuclear: p-value 0.000; extended: p-value 0.028) and 2010 (nuclear: p-value 0.006;
extended: 0.013).
As for wealth, the results show that having middle and richer wealth quintile is statistically
associated with family structure in 2010 for both nuclear and extended families (p-value
0.000) but not in 2000. Similarly, women in employment is statistcially associated with
family strcuture for nuclear and extended family categories (p-value 0.000 for both 2000 and
2010). Lastly, the results also show that having few children (1-2), average number of
children (3-4) and many children (5 and above) is statistically associated with family
structure in the extended family category only (p-value 0.000).
Conclusions: The study reveals that single families are on the increase while nuclear and
extended families are decreasing. Policy and programmes to the wider sectors such as;
HIV/AIDS, gender, reproductive health and education should be directed to the family if
Malawi is to achieve health, and socioeconomic grown which are some of the key areas of
interest in achieving the sustainable development goals.