Examining the Association between Spousal Violence and the Incidence of Acute Respiratory Infection among Children under Five: Random-Effect Modeling Using Data from Nigeria and Bangladesh

Mian B. Hossain, Morgan State University
Ifeyinwa Udo, Morgan State University

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is one of the major causes of childhood mortality among children under five in many underdeveloped countries. About 11.1% and 3.3% of children under five respectively in Bangladesh and Nigeria reported having symptoms of ARI in past two weeks. About 25.6% and 15.4% married women respectively in Bangladesh and Nigeria reported having spousal violence in past year. This research examines the relationship between spousal violence in past year and childhood ARI in past two weeks among children under five. This research uses DHS data from Bangladesh and Nigeria. Random-effect logistic regression results suggest that odds of childhood ARI in past two weeks is about two times (OR=1.78) significantly (p<0.001) higher and, one and half times (OR=1.63) significantly (p<0.001) higher respectively in Nigeria and Bangladesh for children with mothers who experienced spousal violence in past year. Findings suggest that children suffer indirect health consequences from gender-based violence.