Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural Rwanda
Background Child stunting is a significant challenge for most districts in Rwanda and much of sub-Saharan Africa and persists despite multisectoral efforts. There is a notable lack of population-based studies examining the correlation between violence against women and child stunting in Rwanda. Obje...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Global Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2414527 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832096696956354560 |
|---|---|
| author | Jean Nepo Utumatwishima Ingrid Mogren Kristina Elfving Aline Umubyeyi Ali Mansourian Gunilla Krantz |
| author_facet | Jean Nepo Utumatwishima Ingrid Mogren Kristina Elfving Aline Umubyeyi Ali Mansourian Gunilla Krantz |
| author_sort | Jean Nepo Utumatwishima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Child stunting is a significant challenge for most districts in Rwanda and much of sub-Saharan Africa and persists despite multisectoral efforts. There is a notable lack of population-based studies examining the correlation between violence against women and child stunting in Rwanda. Objective We aimed to investigate the association between Rwandan women’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and child stunting in children under 3 years of age. Methods In December 2021, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Northern Province of Rwanda, including 601 women and their children <3 years of age. The World Health Organization (WHO) Women’s Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire for IPV research was utilized. Child stunting was assessed using the WHO criteria for low height for age. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between IPV and child stunting before and during pregnancy. Results Of 601 women, 47.4% (n = 285) experienced any form of IPV during pregnancy. The prevalence rates of the types of IPV associated with child stunting varied: 33% for psychological, 31.4% for sexual, and 25.7% for physical violence. Exposure to physical violence before pregnancy and sexual violence during pregnancy was associated with higher odds of child stunting; the adjusted odds ratios were 1.29 (95% CI, 1.01–2.03) and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.04–2.01), respectively. Conclusion Women’s exposure to physical and psychological violence is associated with an increased risk of child stunting. Urgent targeted interventions and support systems are needed to address the complex relationship between women’s exposure to IPV and adverse effects on child growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b461e6b2b65f448190ca165b49a69e13 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-b461e6b2b65f448190ca165b49a69e132025-02-05T12:46:14ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802024-12-0117110.1080/16549716.2024.24145272414527Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural RwandaJean Nepo Utumatwishima0Ingrid Mogren1Kristina Elfving2Aline Umubyeyi3Ali Mansourian4Gunilla Krantz5University of GothenburgUmea UniversityUniversity of GothenburgUniversity of RwandaLund UniversityUniversity of GothenburgBackground Child stunting is a significant challenge for most districts in Rwanda and much of sub-Saharan Africa and persists despite multisectoral efforts. There is a notable lack of population-based studies examining the correlation between violence against women and child stunting in Rwanda. Objective We aimed to investigate the association between Rwandan women’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and child stunting in children under 3 years of age. Methods In December 2021, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Northern Province of Rwanda, including 601 women and their children <3 years of age. The World Health Organization (WHO) Women’s Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire for IPV research was utilized. Child stunting was assessed using the WHO criteria for low height for age. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between IPV and child stunting before and during pregnancy. Results Of 601 women, 47.4% (n = 285) experienced any form of IPV during pregnancy. The prevalence rates of the types of IPV associated with child stunting varied: 33% for psychological, 31.4% for sexual, and 25.7% for physical violence. Exposure to physical violence before pregnancy and sexual violence during pregnancy was associated with higher odds of child stunting; the adjusted odds ratios were 1.29 (95% CI, 1.01–2.03) and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.04–2.01), respectively. Conclusion Women’s exposure to physical and psychological violence is associated with an increased risk of child stunting. Urgent targeted interventions and support systems are needed to address the complex relationship between women’s exposure to IPV and adverse effects on child growth.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2414527child stuntingintimate partner violencewomenrwandachild growth |
| spellingShingle | Jean Nepo Utumatwishima Ingrid Mogren Kristina Elfving Aline Umubyeyi Ali Mansourian Gunilla Krantz Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural Rwanda Global Health Action child stunting intimate partner violence women rwanda child growth |
| title | Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural Rwanda |
| title_full | Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural Rwanda |
| title_fullStr | Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural Rwanda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural Rwanda |
| title_short | Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting: findings from a population-based study in rural Rwanda |
| title_sort | women s exposure to intimate partner violence and its association with child stunting findings from a population based study in rural rwanda |
| topic | child stunting intimate partner violence women rwanda child growth |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2414527 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeannepoutumatwishima womensexposuretointimatepartnerviolenceanditsassociationwithchildstuntingfindingsfromapopulationbasedstudyinruralrwanda AT ingridmogren womensexposuretointimatepartnerviolenceanditsassociationwithchildstuntingfindingsfromapopulationbasedstudyinruralrwanda AT kristinaelfving womensexposuretointimatepartnerviolenceanditsassociationwithchildstuntingfindingsfromapopulationbasedstudyinruralrwanda AT alineumubyeyi womensexposuretointimatepartnerviolenceanditsassociationwithchildstuntingfindingsfromapopulationbasedstudyinruralrwanda AT alimansourian womensexposuretointimatepartnerviolenceanditsassociationwithchildstuntingfindingsfromapopulationbasedstudyinruralrwanda AT gunillakrantz womensexposuretointimatepartnerviolenceanditsassociationwithchildstuntingfindingsfromapopulationbasedstudyinruralrwanda |