Gender-based Violence and Its Correlation With Children's Health - A Mixed Method Study

Introduction: The number of women who experience gender-based violence (GBV) is higher among women living in rural areas and low-income countries. GBV not only causes problems for women but also affects the health of their children. This study aimed to describe the incident of GBV and its correlation with children’s health. Materials and methods: A mixed-method design was used in this study. The research subjects were 120 mothers with children under five years old in Eastern Indonesia. The instrument used in this research was adapted from the Domestic Violence Module – Demographic and Health Surveys Methodology from USAID. Results: 50% of the respondents experienced GBV. There was no significant correlation between GBV in general and the history of having a baby with low birth weight (LBW) (p=0.239). However, one type of GBV, namely violence during pregnancy, was associated with the history of having a baby with LBW (p=0.035; OR=2.308 CI: 1.022-5.212). No relationship was found between GBV and the incidence of stunting (p=0.369). There was no correlation either 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: Half of the women in the research area have experienced GBV. There was no significant correlation between GBV and children's health, but mothers who experienced violence during pregnancy were at more risk of giving birth to babies with LBW. Furthermore, the history of under-five mortality rate was higher in mothers who experienced GBV.