Gender-based Violence and Its Correlation with Children^s Health - a Mixed Methods Study
Aristina Halawa, Monica Kartini, Deasy Elvianita

William Booth Institute of Health Sciences, Indonesia
Ngesti Waluyo Institute of Health Sciences, Indonesia
Griya Husada Institute of Health Sciences, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is an important social and health problems globally. This violence has a major impact on women and can also affect the health of their children.
Purpose: To know about GBV that occurs in Eastern Indonesia and its correlation with children^s health, namely birth weight, stunting, and under-five mortality.
Methods: This research used a mixed methods design. A quantitative approach was used to determine the relationship between GBV and children^s health. Meanwhile, a qualitative approach was taken to explore more about GBV, and the efforts made about the violence. The research subjects were 120 mothers with children under five years old in West Sumba, East Sumba, and Maluku regions. This study used a research instrument that was adapted from the Domestic Violence Module - Demographic and Health Surveys Methodology by USAID.
Results: The research results showed that 50% of respondents experienced GBV. There was no significant relationship between the GBV in general and the history of low birth weight/LBW (p=0.239). However, one type of GBV, namely violence during pregnancy, was associated with history of LBW (p=0.035- OR=2.308- 95% CI:1.022-5.212). No relationship was found between GBV and the incidence of stunting (p=0.369). There was no correlation between GBV and under-five mortality (p=0.619). However, the under-five mortality rate was higher among mothers who experienced violence (5%) compared to those who did not experience violence (1.7%).
Conclusion: Even though there was no significant correlation between GBV and children^s health, but mothers who experience violence during pregnancy were at more risk of giving birth to babies with LBW. Furthermore, the history of under-five mortality was higher in mothers who experienced GBV. Therefore, it is important for health workers and all related parties to prevent and overcome this problem.

Keywords: gender-based violence- birth weight- stunting- under-five mortality- violence during pregnancy

Topic: Maternal and Child Health