Does intimate partner violence experienced by mothers impact child health in South Asian countries? Evidence from mixed-effects logistic regression analysis

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a ‘global hidden epidemic’ and has significant repercussions on child’s biological, psychological and emotional well-being. Given the disproportionately high incidence of IPV against women in South Asia, coupled with the global burden of child malnutrition, it is imperative to investigate the effects of IPV on child health. The study employed a mixed-effect logistic model using data from the latest round of the Demographic and Health Survey conducted in South Asian countries, namely, India, Maldives and Pakistan. Unadjusted mixed-effect logistic regression analysis indicated that a child whose mother has experienced physical violence during pregnancy was more likely to be stunted and underweight. Furthermore, women who were subjected to sexual violence, emotional violence, experienced high spousal controlling behaviour, justified wife beating by husband, and witnessed inter-parental violence were more likely to have a child with poor anthropometric indicators. Interestingly, even after adjusting for other forms of IPV, women whose domestic violence interviews were interrupted by an adult were more likely to have a wasted child in South Asia. Policymakers must adopt strategies including IPV screening, provision of microfinance, motivational counselling sessions and women’s empowerment (through education and employment opportunities).