Exposure to violence predicts poor educational outcomes in young children in South Africa and Malawi

Abstract

Background: Violence during childhood may affect short and long-term educational factors. There is scant literature on younger children from resource poor settings.

Methods: This study assessed child violence experiences (harsh punishment and exposure to domestic or community violence) and school enrolment, progress and attendance in children attending community-based organisations in South Africa and Malawi (n=989) at baseline and at 15 months' follow-up, examining differential experience of HIV positive, HIV affected and HIV unaffected children.

Results: Violence exposure was high: 45.4% experienced some form of psychological violence, 47.8% physical violence, 46.7% domestic violence and 41.8% community violence. Primary school enrolment was 96%. Violence was not associated with school enrolment at baseline but, controlling for baseline, children exposed to psychological violence for discipline were more than ten times less likely to be enrolled at follow-up (OR 0.09; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.57). Harsh discipline was associated with poor school progress. For children HIV positive a detrimental effect of harsh physical discipline was found on school performance (OR 0.10; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.61).

Conclusion: Violence experiences were associated with a number of educational outcomes, which may have long-term consequences. Community-based organisations may be well placed to address such violence, with a particular emphasis on the challenges faced by children who are HIV positive.

Keywords: Children and young people; Educational outcomes; Malawi; Maltreatment; South Africa; Violence.

Figure 1.

Odds ratio of being in the correct class as a function of type of violence experienced at baseline. Any physical violence was the only significant factor, having a negative effect on whether the child is in the right class or not. *p<0.01. This figure is available in black and white in print and in color at International Health online.

Figure 2.

Difference in school enrolment at baseline and follow-up between children who do and do not experience psychological violence as a form of discipline. Children who did not experience psychological violence had significantly lower enrolment at follow-up controlled for baseline enrolment than children who did not experience psychological violence (OR 0.09; 95% CI 0.01–0.57). This figure is available in black and white in print and in color at International Health online.

Figure 3.

Odds ratio of being in a correct class at follow-up when having experienced physical violence as a form of discipline at baseline as a function of HIV status. For children with HIV, physical violence results in a much lower chance of being in the correct class follow-up, whereas this was not the case for the HIV affected and HIV free children. *p<0.05. This figure is available in black and white in print and in color at International Health online.