National Survey of Adolescents, 2004: Malawi Archival Version

The National Survey Adolescents was launched in 2004 in four Sub-Saharan African countries--Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda--to provide detailed information on adolescent risk-taking and health-seeking behavior as related to HIV, STDs and unintended pregnancy. The study examined a range of factors (e.g., behavioral, sociocultural, economic) that could lead to increased vulnerability to risk. The study also encompassed knowledge of means of prevention, sources of trusted information and health care, and impediments to adolescents' abilities to apply their knowledge and take preventive action. The survey in Malawi was administered between March and June 2004 and again in August 2004. Using a two-stage stratified sample design that selected households from rural and urban clusters, 7,750 households were listed for initial screening. After an initial interview in each household, individual surveys were administered in person to adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 who were de facto or de jure members of the household. However, during the initial data collection period this process collected only 3,448 individual interviews with adolescents. Consequently, in August 2004, researchers extended the surveys to additional clusters excluded during the first round of surveys bringing the total number of individuals to 4,879. Because of the sensitive nature of questions administered in the survey, informed consent forms were obtained from both parents/guardians and the respondents, and in all possible instances interviewers and respondents were paired up by gender. The individual case file has two weighting variables. The sample weight is "qweight" and is used for all respondents. If "qweight"=0, the case should not be included in analysis either because of incomplete data or possible redundancy. Before use with the data, the sample weight (qweight) should be divided by 1,000,000 before applying the weighting factor. The weight, "qwgt12", is a weight for respondents who also were selected for and answered Section 12 questions, since only one eligible adolescent per household was selected for those sensitive questions. When examining Section 12 questions, use only "qwgt12". Before using "qwgt12", it must also be divided by 1,000,000. Response Rates: The overall response rate was 89 percent. Between March 2004 and June 2004 and in August 2004, a two-stage cluster sample of 7,750 households were visited, from which a sample of 4,879 eligible adolescents were interviewed. Only adolescents that were de facto or de jure members of the household and between the ages of 12 and 19 were considered eligible. Datasets: DS0: Study-Level Files DS1: Individual Record DS2: Household Record All adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 in Malawi. Smallest Geographic Unit: Administrative region face-to-face interview