The effect of domestic violence against women on child welfare in Vietnam

Abstract

This study uses Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2010–2011 to document the causal relationship between domestic violence against women on the welfare of children under 5 years old in Vietnam. To address the endogeneity issue, we use the extent of exposure to domestic violence against at the commune level as instrumental variable for domestic violence against women at the household level. We find that higher domestic violence against women leads to lower welfare of children. The results are strong and consistent when we use non-parametric method. We also provide two channels – mothers' and fathers' childcare –through which domestic violence influences negatively the welfare of children.