Intimate partner violence against women and under-five mortality: A systematic review and meta-Analysis — The Association Specialists
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Intimate partner violence against women and under-five mortality: A systematic review and meta-Analysis (24138)

Bereket Kefale 1 2 , Aditi Roy 1 3 , Daniel Gashaneh Belay 1 4 , Tesfaye Setegn Mengistu 5 6 , Jennifer Dunne 7 , Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu 1 , Amanuel T Gebremedhin 1 8 9 , Marshall Makate 1 3 , Jacqui Hendriks 1 , Gavin Pereira 1 7 10 11 12 , Gizachew A Tessema 1 7 12 13
  1. Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  2. Department of Reproductive and Family Health, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Amhara, Ethiopia
  3. Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia
  5. School of Public Health, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia
  6. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  7. enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  8. Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  9. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  10. World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Climate Change and Health Impact Assessment, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  11. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
  12. Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
  13. School of Public Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a persistent global public health concern with lasting impacts on the health of affected women and their children. Although previous studies suggest a potential link between IPV and under-five mortality (U5M), the evidence remains inconclusive.

Methods: Seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL) were searched from inception to April 22, 2026. Studies were included if they examined the association between forms of IPV (any IPV or subtypes such as physical, sexual, emotional violence, or partner control behaviour) and under-five, infant and neonatal mortality. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline was followed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). 

Results: Twenty-eight studies comprising 684,004 participants were included in the review, of which 25 were included in the meta-analyses. IPV was associated with higher odds of U5M (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.05–1.16), infant mortality (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.11–1.57), and neonatal mortality (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.19–1.55). Physical IPV (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.17–1.61), sexual IPV (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.33–2.17), and emotional IPV (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.07–1.56) were associated with higher odds of neonatal mortality. Physical IPV was also associated with higher odds of infant mortality (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.01–1.44). No statistically significant associations were observed between IPV subtypes and U5M.

Conclusions: IPV against women was associated with higher odds of under-five, infant, and neonatal mortality. These findings highlight the importance of addressing IPV within child health strategies, including strengthening legal protections, expanding survivor support systems, and integrating IPV detection and response into maternal and child health services.