Exposure to Violence Among Children from Two Red-Light Areas in Mumbai, India: Implications for Quality of Life and Longevity

Purpose:Given that exposure to multiple forms of violence during childhood can adversely impact children’s health and overall quality of life, an understanding of prevalence and nature of violence experienced is critical. Towards this end, this study conducts a cross-group examination of exposure to violence (neglect, physical violence, sexual violence and verbal/emotional abuse), within and outside the home, among 146 children (aged 13-17 years) from Falkland Road and Kamatipura red-light areas in Mumbai.

Methods:In-person survey interviews were conducted with: i) 69 shelter-based children whose mothers have ever prostituted; ii) 47 community- based children whose mothers have ever prostituted; and iii) 30 community based children whose mothers have never prostituted. An adapted version of the ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool Children’s Version (ICAST-C) was administered verbally by the Principal Investigator as part of a larger data collection package assessing violence, trauma symptomatology and presence of factors promoting resilience among the participants. Data were analyzed by cross-tabulations and analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction.

Results:

Violence within the home. Community- based children of ever- prostituted women (CB-EP) reported significantly greater exposure to witnessing violence (p < .001) as well as experiencing verbal/emotional abuse (p< .001) than both shelter- based children of ever- prostituted women (SB-EP) and community- based children of never-prostituted women (CB-NP). A linear trend was observed, with children in the CB-EP group reporting greatest exposure to neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse, followed by children in the SB-EP group; children in the CB-NP group reported the least exposure. The difference between CB-EP and SB-EP groups in reportage of neglect and between SB-EP and CB-NP groups in reportage of physical abusewas marginal. 

Violence outside the home. Children in the CB-EP group reported significantly greater exposure to witnessing community violence (p<.001) than children in the SB-EP and CB-NP groups.  Children in the CB-EP group differed significantly in their reportage of physical violence (p < .002) from children in the CB-NP group, but did not differ significantly from children in the SB-EP group. Lastly, although not statistically significant, a linear trend was observed, with children in the CB-EP group reporting the most exposure to verbal/emotional and sexual abuse, followed by children in the SB-EP group; children in the CB-NP reported the least exposure. The difference between SB-EP and CB-EP groups’ reportage of verbal/emotional violence outside home was marginal.

 

Conclusion and implications: Community-based children of ever prostituted women were found to be at highest risk for exposure to multiple forms of violence within and outside the home. While long-term shelter placement provides these children some protection from violence within the home, their exposure to violence outside the home remains high. Current interventions appear not to adequately address  protection needs of these children; concerted efforts are needed to secure current as well as prospective wellbeing. Current interventions, practice and policy implications will be discussed.