ABSTRACT
Little is known about how young children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience violence in their homes, and how different types of household violence may affect child development. This study reports on levels of exposure to household violence and associations with child behavioural outcomes in preschool-aged children in western Kenya. A sample of 465 caregivers, whose children (n = 497) attended early learning centres supported by an international NGO, were enrolled in the study. Caregivers reported on exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), household discipline practices, attitudes about gender roles, and child behavioural outcomes. Multivariable analysis showed significant predictive effects of IPV (regression coefficient = 1.35, SE = 0.54, p = 0.01) and harsh psychological child discipline (regression coefficient = 0.74, SE = 0.22, p = 0.001), but not physical discipline (regression coefficient = 0.42, SE = 0.24, p = 0.08), on worse child behavioural problems. These findings indicate that child exposure to violence in different forms is highly prevalent, and associated with poorer outcomes in young children. Community-based programmes focused on parenting and early child development are well-positioned to address household violence in LMIC settings, but must be supported to provide a broader understanding of violence and its immediate and long-term consequences.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of the dedicated data collection and research teams based in Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Bondo, Kenya.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
ORCID
Christina A. Laurenzi http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9648-4473
Sarah Skeen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7464-2861
Phillip Sundin http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2610-4644
Xanthe Hunt http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7531-6665
Robert E. Weiss http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3648-8522
Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6395-5187
Mark Tomlinson http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5846-3444
Notes
1 We use household violence to refer to any physical or psychological violence occurring in the home, between other household members or experienced directly.
2 We use the term caregivers to denote other family members who may be primary guardians.
3 In our study, pre-school aged children are children under 6.