Exploring Socio-Economic Characteristics of Migration Streams in Urban Malawi; Preliminary Findings from the Establishment of the Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System

Kondwani Mwandira, Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit
Owen Nkoka, University of Glasgow
Albert Dube, Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit
Shekinah Munthali, Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit
Grecium Kayange, Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit
Maisha Nyasulu, Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit
Thandile Gondwe, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Estelle McLean, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Amelia Crampin, Karonga Prevention Study

Migration has become a topic of major focus in development policy and academic circles. We explore migration streams in urban Malawi and socio-economic characteristics of urban migrants. We analyzed data from 21,224 individuals of all ages recruited in the on-going establishment of the Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Lilongwe. We defined a migrant as a person who moves away from their place of residence. Out of 21,224, 78% had at least one known previous location while 22% lived in the dwelling unit since birth. Of the individuals that had lived elsewhere, the majority fall in the urban-urban migration stream (91%) and the minority fall in the rural-urban stream (9%). 56% of the participants had an estimated monthly income of less than MK50, 000.Understanding the relationship between urban migration and socio-economic indexes is important for stakeholders to design interventions that align with community needs.