Ugandan Children and Parents' Perceptions of the Emotional Impact of Intersecting Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Children

Background and Purpose: The emotional trauma and poor mental health consequences resulting from exposure to intimate partner violence against women (IPV) and violence against children (VAC) has been well established.  Yet, little qualitative research exists exploring the potentially exacerbated emotional outcomes on all family members when IPV and VAC co-occur.  Qualitative research capturing children's voices is even scarcer, especially in the Global South.  The focus of this study is on the emotional consequences experienced by families in Uganda when there is IPV and/or VAC in the home.  This study, in particular, seeks to give a voice to the most vulnerable in this cycle of violence by using their words.

Methods: This study uses secondary qualitative data collected from the IPV and VAC Intersections Study, including in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 51 children (boys and girls) and 55 adults (mothers and fathers) in Kampala, Uganda.  The current study objectives are to understand the emotional impact of intersecting violence in Ugandan families.  All FGDs and IDIs were conducted in Luganda, using a combination of case vignette methodology and participatory techniques.  We used a five-step framework approach to analyze the data, including the preparation of several thematic matrices and a conceptual model to explain key findings.

Findings: Findings from the original study indicate the familial experience of intersecting IPV and VAC is perceived as a normal way of life.  The current analysis reveals that both adults and children express intense emotional reactions and feelings as a result of intersecting violence.  Specific areas of emotional outcomes expressed by participants include fear, sadness, anger, anxiety, and desire to enact revenge/vindication.  Children express a keen awareness of what is happening in their families, and articulate complex emotional and other negative impacts from their experience of violence.  The depth and intensity of the children’s responses contradicts some adults’ beliefs about children’s awareness and feelings.  Additional perceived differences in response to intersecting VAC and IPV between adults and children, as well as between males and females, will be explored.

Conclusions and Implications: Future research and program implications will be discussed in the context of how to best help children process and overcome emotional trauma from intersecting VAC and IPV, as well as prevent both types of violence in families.  While there is a clear need for continued work to eliminate VAC and IPV in families, current findings indicate there is a pressing need to develop programming targeted at women and children experiencing emotional consequences from a history of interesting violence.  Programs that focus on nurturing resiliency and addressing existing trauma in families are critical, particularly for those in low-resourced contexts such as Uganda.