Getting started with ihsMW

1. Installation

You can install the development version of ihsMW from GitHub using the pak or remotes package:

# Install from GitHub
pak::pak("vituk123/ihsMW")
# or
remotes::install_github("vituk123/ihsMW")

(Note: CRAN installation commands will be available once the package is officially published).

2. One-time setup

The World Bank Microdata Library limits access to registered researchers. You must retrieve a free API Key to access survey records securely.

Run the authentication wizard directly from R. It will dynamically guide you toward generating an API key securely:

library(ihsMW)

# Open the interactive authentication wizard
ihs_auth()

This command will open the World Bank Microdata Library in your browser. Register, navigate to your profile, generate a token, and copy the string.

Then, register your key within the package seamlessly:

ihs_auth("your_alphanumeric_api_key_goes_here")

This procedure only needs to be completed once mapping your credentials persistently to your ~/.Renviron profile securely on your local device.

3. Finding variables

The ihsMW package maintains an internal harmonisation crosswalk mapping thousands of distinct metrics accurately tracking naming disparities across distinct rounds (IHS2 to IHS5).

You can explicitly search this map utilizing descriptive keywords:

# Look up variables related to consumption
ihs_search("consumption")

Alternatively, restrict your query natively capturing data specifically from an explicit survey round implicitly avoiding unnecessary scope overlaps:

# Find age-related variables specifically monitored during IHS5
ihs_search("age", round = "IHS5")

Should you wish to review variables explicitly inside their raw survey contexts, explore modules seamlessly natively leveraging the World Bank infrastructure:

# Look at all modules administered in IHS5
ihs_modules("IHS5")

Use ihs_label() natively referencing Stata attributes preserving explicit meaning behind discrete identifiers exactly mirroring internal documentation structures natively:

ihs_label("rexp_cat01")

4. Downloading data

Once your targeted harmonised variables are identified, use the overarching IHS() extractor capturing raw microdata formatting seamlessly binding values natively resolving dependencies securely across cache targets without rigid management requirements.

Acquire standalone elements cleanly extracting structural representations iteratively locally:

# Simple extraction targeted against IHS5
df_simple <- IHS("rexp_cat01", round = "IHS5")

The true power of ihsMW extends gracefully targeting multiple variables pooled simultaneously across disjointed rounds without manual file joining restrictions matching parameters reliably natively:

# Multi-round pooled extractions mapping harmonisations intelligently
df_multi <- IHS(c("rexp_cat01", "hh_a02"), round = c("IHS4", "IHS5"))

The pooled structure integrates an explicit ihs_round character string isolating origins intelligently supporting explicit group derivations cleanly binding data.frame layers exactly natively accurately.

Caching Integration: ihsMW downloads raw components saving parameters directly onto persistent native disk locations ensuring data remains cached persistently seamlessly avoiding redundant API hits natively!

5. A complete worked example

The following blocks detail a standard end-to-end integration mapping discovery against consumption distributions smoothly integrating visualization bindings securely directly formatting outputs correctly.

library(ihsMW)
library(dplyr)
library(ggplot2)

# Find the consumption variable
ihs_search("per capita consumption")

# Download IHS5 consumption data
df <- IHS("rexp_cat01", round = "IHS5")

# Quick summary
df |> summarise(mean_cons = mean(rexp_cat01, na.rm = TRUE))

# Simple histogram
ggplot(df, aes(x = rexp_cat01)) +
  geom_histogram(bins = 50) +
  labs(title = "Distribution of per capita consumption, Malawi IHS5")

6. Citation

When publishing research utilizing datasets harmonized or accessed via ihsMW, you must rigorously cite the sampling procedures matching precise documents natively guaranteeing attribution accurately tracking standard rules.

Always cite both the NSO Malawi and the World Bank LSMS natively recognizing precise structures smoothly linking contributions reliably!

For IHS5: National Statistical Office. Malawi - Fifth Integrated Household Survey 2019-2020. Ref: MWI_2019_IHS-V_v06_M. URL: https://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/3818