Children of Mothers Facing Partner Violence Have Higher Death Risk, Review Finds

Children whose mothers experience violence from a partner face a higher chance of dying before their fifth birthday, according to a systematic review led by Curtin University. Published in JAMA Network Open, the review combined data from more than 684,000 women and children across 28 studies from around the world, making it one of the largest reviews of its kind.

Compared with other women, those who experienced intimate partner violence had a 10% higher chance of losing a child before age 5, a 32% greater chance of a baby dying before their first birthday, and a 36% higher chance of losing a newborn during the first month of life. "Violence against women doesn't just harm women; it can also have devastating consequences for babies and young children," said lead author Bereket Kefale, a doctoral candidate at Curtin University. "Our findings show preventing intimate partner violence could help save children's lives as well as improve the health and well-being of women."

The study found physical, sexual and emotional violence were all linked to a higher chance of newborn deaths, while physical violence was linked to a higher chance of babies dying before their first birthday. Kefale said women experiencing violence may be more likely to face injury, mental health challenges, difficulties accessing health care, and complications during pregnancy and birth, all of which may affect a baby's health and survival; violence may also limit a child's access to essential services and disrupt a safe home environment.

Senior author Gizachew Tessema, an associate professor at Curtin's School of Population Health, said efforts to reduce child deaths usually focus on improving health care, nutrition and vaccination, and that preventing violence against women should also be part of those efforts. Co-author Jacqueline Hendriks said the findings support routine screening for intimate partner violence before and during pregnancy and in early motherhood, alongside stronger legal protections and better support for women experiencing violence.