Intimate Partnership Formation, Dynamics, and Violence among Youth in the Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme

Audrey Pereira, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sudhanshu Handa, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Joseph Chunga, Center for Social Research, University of Malawi
Juba Kafumba, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Peter Mvula, University of Malawi
Maxton Tsoka, University of Malawi

Background: Evidence on the role of Government-led cash transfer (CT) programs in sub-Saharan Africa on relationship formation and intimate partner violence (IPV) is sparse. Methods: The Government of Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme evaluation collected data from youth aged 20-30 years old in 2022, who were first interviewed in 2013 when they were 13-19 years old. We also conducted in-depth interviews with young women to understand relationship formation, social support, and IPV experience. Research aims: We assess the impact of CT on youth relationship dynamics and IPV among women. We also qualitatively examine youth relationship formation, social support, and IPV during the transition to adulthood. Contributions: We provide robust evidence on how youth form relationships, the dynamics of these relationships, CT impacts, and IPV experience in early life, which can consequently influence successful transitions of youth to adulthood and affect health and wellbeing throughout the life-course.