Physical and psychological symptoms and learning difficulties in children of women exposed and non-exposed to violence: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the association between violence against mothers and the health of their children as reported by the mothers.


METHODS
The data originate from a multistage sampling health-questionnaire survey, distributed to a representative sample of women in Sweden. The health of 283 children (aged 0-18 years), as reported by women who had been exposed to violence at home or outside home during the past 12 months, was compared with that of 4,664 children of non-exposed mothers.


RESULTS
Odds ratios regarding most registered physical symptoms showed that children of violence-exposed mothers had a significant higher risk of ill health than children of non-exposed mothers. Regarding psychological symptoms and learning difficulties, the odds were raised for girls for most symptoms, but not for boys. A twofold increase in health-care utilisation and an overall general increase in the risk of pharmaceutical consumption were shown for both girls and boys of exposed mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
This population-based study shows an increased risk of poorer health amongst boys and girls aged 0-18 years, as reported by mothers exposed to violence.
Olofsson
Niclas
N
Division of Social Medicine and Public Health Science, Department of Medicine and Health, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. niclas.olofsson@lvn.se
Lindqvist
Kent
K
Gådin
Katja Gillander
KG
Bråbäck
Lennart
L
Danielsson
Ingela
I
D000293:Adolescent; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014754:Violence