Violence against children and intimate partner violence against women: overlap and common contributing factors among caregiver-adolescent dyads

Catherine Carlson,Karen Devries,Louise Knight,Elizabeth Allen,Andrea Norcini Pala,Dipak Naker,Janet Nakuti,Lori Michau,Carin Ikenberg,Milton L Wainberg,Sophie Namy

doi:10.1186/s12889-019-8115-0

Abstract

BackgroundIntimate partner violence against women (IPV) and violence against children (VAC) are both global epidemics with long-term health consequences. The vast majority of research to date focuses on either IPV or VAC, however the intersections between these types of violence are a growing area of global attention. A significant need exists for empirical research on the overlap of IPV and VAC, especially in contexts with particularly high rates of both types of violence.MethodsThis exploratory study includes secondary analysis of data from a cluster randomized controlled trial in Ugandan schools. Using baseline reports from a random sample of early adolescents attending school and their caregivers, this study uses a probability sample across all eligible schools of adolescent-caregiver dyads (n = 535). We categorized adolescent-caregiver dyads into four groups: those reporting VAC ‘only’, IPV ‘only’, both VAC and IPV, or ‘no violence’. Two separate multinomial logistic regression models for male and female caregivers explored adolescent and caregiver characteristics associated with the VAC ‘only’, the IPV ‘only’, or the both VAC and IPV dyads, each compared to the ‘no violence’ dyad.ResultsOne third of dyads reported both IPV and VAC and nearly 75% of dyads reported VAC or IPV. Dyads reporting IPV were more likely to also report VAC. Common contributing factors for female caregiver-adolescent dyads with both VAC and IPV include lower SES, less caregiver education, higher caregiver mental distress, more frequent caregiver alcohol use, and caregivers who report less emotional attachment to their intimate partner. Male caregiver-adolescent dyads with both VAC and IPV included caregivers with less emotional attachment to their intimate partner and more attitudes accepting VAC.ConclusionsFindings reveal a significant overlap of IPV and VAC and the importance for violence prevention and response programming to consider coordinated or integrated programming. Unique results for female and male caregivers highlight the importance of a gendered approach to addressing IPV and VAC intersections.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01678846, on September 5, 2012.

Highlights

Intimate partner violence against women (IPV) and violence against children (VAC) are both global epidemics with long-term health consequences
Results highlight the unique patterns of IPV and VAC in the family depending on caregiver sex
Secondary education may be associated with attitudes rejecting IPV, Table 4 Percentage of dyads reporting none, IPV ‘Only’, VAC ‘Only’, or IPV and VAC, by sex of caregiver

Summary

Introduction

Intimate partner violence against women (IPV) and violence against children (VAC) are both global epidemics with long-term health consequences. Intimate partner violence against women (IPV) and violence against children (VAC) by caregivers are each global epidemics [1, 2] with long-term health consequences [3, 4]. A qualitative study on the intersections of IPV and VAC in Uganda explores the use of violence against both women and children as a mechanism of enforcing power hierarchies and gender/childhood norms within families [37]. In-depth interviews in South Africa, revealed that even mothers’ homicidal violence against their children frequently occurred within a context of the women’s long-term exposure to IPV [38] Both of these studies reveal women’s use of violence against children as their exercise of power over children, when unable to express power over their male partners

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Discussion

Conclusion