Women's intergenerational intimate partner violence and household child abuse in Burma (Myanmar)

• Published in: SSM - population health Vol. 17; p. 101010
• Main Authors: Miedema, Stephanie Spaid, Kyaw, Aye Thiri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Burma (Myanmar); Child abuse; Child discipline; Intergenerational violence; Intimate partner violence; Child discipline; Child abuse; Intergenerational violence; Burma (Myanmar); Intimate partner violence
• ISSN: 2352-8273; 2352-8273
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.101010

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse are prevalent in Burma (Myanmar). However, gaps exist in our understanding of intergenerational cycles and co-occurrence of violence, and whether patterns of violence vary by women and children's life course transitions and developmental stages. Using data from the 2015–2016 Demographic and Health Survey, we estimated structural equation models to evaluate the pathways between women's exposure to IPV perpetrated by her father against her mother (maternal abuse), her own past-year experiences of IPV, attitudes toward IPV, and household child discipline practices. We ran stratified analyses by women's age at first birth and child's age to assess whether intergenerational cycles and co-occurrence of violence in the household vary by pivotal life events and development stages. Maternal abuse was directly and indirectly associated with women's past-year exposure to physical and/or sexual IPV and children's exposure to physical or emotional child abuse by a caregiver in the household. Stratified models indicated significant intergenerational cycles of IPV and co-occurrence of IPV and child abuse among women who experienced first childbirth before age 23, and among women living with older children. We conclude that synchronized efforts to prevent violence against women and violence against children are integral to addressing cyclical and co-occurring patterns of violence in Burma (Myanmar). Violence prevention efforts might consider developmental stage and life course factors that may intensify risk of intergenerational violence. •The link between prior generation IPV and current child abuse was partially mediated by women's past-year exposure to IPV.•These pathways were stronger among women who experienced early childbearing, and for women who lived with older children.•Maternal and child developmental events appear to influence intergenerational and co-occurring patterns of family violence.•Efforts to prevent IPV and child abuse could be tailored based on life course events and developmental stages.