Citation

Sabarwal S, McCormick MC, Silverman JG, Subramanian SV. J. Trop. Pediatr. 2012; 58(2): 107-113.

Affiliation

Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/tropej/fmr052

PMID

21705763

Abstract

Empirical evidence regarding the relationship between use of child health services and maternal intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure is sparse. The present study examined the relationship between maternal IPV and childhood immunization status in India using the nationally representative NFHS-3 (n = 6947). Exposure was past year IPV and the outcome was full immunization. IPV victimization was associated with decreased likelihood of being fully immunized after controlling for a range of socio-demographic variables. We also found that differences in measurement of the immunization status (self-report vs. health card) had different implications for the observed association; women reporting IPV and not having the vaccination card were most vulnerable to lack of immunization of their children. Findings suggest the need for increased programmatic efforts to prevent both the prevalence of IPV as well as the multiple MCH consequences of such violence.

Language: en