Abstract
BackgroundChildren’s exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) is a global public health concern and is considered one of the most common and severe stressors children can experience. While it is acknowledged that children who are exposed to FDV have poorer general health, there is a lack of data on the outcomes of children exposed to FDV. The use of longitudinal data has been suggested as a way to gain an understanding of the impact on children’s long-term outcomes.MethodsOur cohort study used deidentified individual-level linked administrative data of children born 1987–2010, in Western Australia, who were exposed to FDV in the prenatal period (12 months prior to birth) to five years of age (early years).ResultsChildren exposed to FDV are more likely to be hospitalised than non-exposed children. Children exposed to FDV in both the prenatal and early childhood period had a threefold increased odds of mental health hospitalisation. We found a significant increase in odds of pregnancy-related hospitalisation in FDV exposed children. When stratified by Aboriginal status, Aboriginal children had a higher proportion of hospitalisations than non-Aboriginal children.ConclusionExposed children have an increased likelihood for hospitalisation than non-exposed children. Within the exposed cohort differences were apparent between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. Aboriginal children had greater odds for hospitalisation in most of the diagnostic groups compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Our findings represent an important advance in the literature with respect to the burden of disease of children exposed to FDV.
Highlights
Children’s exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) is a global public health concern
Children exposed to FDV are more likely to be hospitalised than non-exposed children
We found a significant increase in odds of pregnancy-related hospitalisation in FDV exposed children
Summary
Children’s exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) is a global public health concern. While the term FDV is encompassing it should not detract from the fact that women are disproportionately affected by violence perpetrated by men [2, 3]. Pre-school children are vulnerable and disproportionately exposed to FDV due to the time they spend in the family home [7,8,9]. While the outcomes for women who are victims of FDV are well researched, the literature is lacking on the outcomes for children who are exposed, with children being referred to as the forgotten victims [12]. Children’s exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) is a global public health concern and is considered one of the most common and severe stressors children can experience. The use of longitudinal data has been suggested as a way to gain an understanding of the impact on children’s long-term outcomes
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