Domestic Violence and Children:

Changing Policy, Changing Practice.

Dr. Sue Peckover,

University of Sheffield.

Domestic Violence.

.... any violence between current or

former partners in an intimate
relationship, wherever and whenever
the violence occurs. The violence may
include physical, sexual, emotional or
financial abuse
(Department of Health 2000, p. 8).

The Extent of Domestic Violence.

1 in 4 women have experienced domestic

violence at some time in their lives.

1 in 9 women have experienced physical

violence during the past 12 months.

2 women are killed each week by their

partners or ex-partners.

Domestic Violence and Children

On 8th February 2000 WAFE census:

2045 women and 2745 children living in
Womens Aid refuges in England.

Estimated that at least 42,000 children are

accommodated in UK refuges each year
(WAFE 1997).

Domestic Violence and Children.

Domestic Violence and Pregnancy.

Witnessing or Overhearing Domestic
Violence.
Child Abuse.
A Damaging Environment for
Children.

Domestic Violence and Pregnancy.

Domestic violence often commences or increases in
frequency or severity during pregnancy.
Poorer maternal health: higher rates of smoking,
drug use, depression and poor obstetric histories.
Decreased use of maternity and other health care
services.
Increased rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-term
and low birth weight babies.

Witnessing or Overhearing Domestic

Violence.
NCH Survey (Abrahams 1994) completed by 108
women
86 mothers believed their children had become aware of the
violence they were experiencing. Of these,
73% reported that their children witnessed the violence,
62% overheard one or more attacks,
52% saw injuries arising from domestic abuse,
99% said their children had seen them crying and upset
because of the violence.
This study also found that 1 in 10 mothers had been sexually
abused in front of their children.

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.

Bowker et al 1988.

a volunteer sample of battered women

70 % (543 women) of the 775 mothers reported that

the wife beater had also abused their children.
41% slapped their children.
16% kick, hit or punched them.

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

Stark and Flitcraft 1988.
examined the medical records of 116 mothers of
children where child abuse was known or
suspected
45 % (52 women) with a trauma history
indicative of battering
5 % (6 women) with a history that suggested
marital conflict.
Where mothers were subject to domestic violence, the
father was three times more likely to be the childs abuser
than in families where mothers were not physically
abused.

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.

Farmer and Owen (1995)

domestic violence featured in 52 % of their
intensive sample of 44 children registered as a
result of child protection case conferences.
Gibbons et al (1995)
examined the social work records for 1888 families
in which children were referred to the child
protection system, finding that domestic violence
was recorded for 27 % of these families.

Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.

Hester and Radford (1996) child contact study.

21 of the 53 women living in England reported that
their male partner has also inflicted physical or
sexual violence upon their children.

NCH Survey (Abrahams 1994).

108 women survivors of domestic abuse with 246
children between them.
27 % of the mothers reported that the children had
been hit or abused by the violent man.

Domestic Violence and Parenting.

A difficult context for mother-child relationships to
develop.
Poorer physical and emotional health, exhaustion and loss
of self-confidence NCH Survey (Abrahams 1994).
Often commences or escalates during pregnancy/early
parenthood.
Often aggravated by childrens emotional and behavioural
responses to domestic violence.
Financial and social isolation.

Fathers:
violent men are less involved with their children, their ....
irritability appears to spill over into fathering (Holden and
Ritchie 1991, p. 325).

Leaving Violent Men.

poverty

poor housing

disrupted access to health care

disrupted access to education

disrupted access to play and social activities.

The Impact of Domestic Violence Upon

Children.
Childrens responses vary enormously:
developmental age,
their particular experience of abuse,
what they know of their mothers abuse,
what support they receive,
their relationships with adults outside of the
family.

The Impact of Domestic Violence Upon

Children.

physical injuries, including bruises and broken bones.

being protective of their mother and/or siblings;
physically intervening, withholding information, getting
help etc.
advanced in maturity and sense of responsibility.
aggression/anger to mother and/or others
introversion/withdrawal
feeling guilty/to blame.
secretive/silent/unable to tell.
self-blame/bitterness.

The Impact of Domestic Violence Upon

Children.

fear, insecurity, tension.

truanting, running away.
difficulties at school.
disruptions in school and living arrangements.
emotional confusion in relation to parents
bed-wetting.
nightmares.
sleep disturbances.
eating difficulties.
self-harm.

The Impact of Domestic Violence Upon

Children.

weight loss.
developmental delays in young children.
sadness/depression.
social isolation.
difficulties with trusting others.
low self esteem.
poor social skills.
highly developed social skills.
ability to negotiate difficult situations.
physical symptoms including headaches, stomach
aches, and diarrhoea.

Any professional working with children

may observe the results of living with
domestic violence but will typically be
equipped with little idea of how to
respond
(Mullender and Morley 1994, p. 2).

Changing Policy and Practice.

..to move from the periphery to the

centre of social, health care and
community safety/civil and criminal
justice agencies work.

Key Messages.

Take domestic violence seriously.

Protect and support women and children.
Develop effective multi-agency partnerships.
Consistent agency approach:
Safety.
Training,
Practice guidelines.

Key Documents.

Living Without Fear 1999

Multi-Agency Guidance for Addressing Domestic

Violence. Home Office 2000.

Working Together to Safeguard Children. 1999

Domestic Violence: A Resource Manual for

Health Care Professionals. Department of Health
2000.

The Role of the Community Paediatrician.

Take domestic violence seriously.

Improve awareness.

Improve recognition.

Questions that could be asked to facilitate disclosures, when

you suspect a child is experiencing domestic abuse:

What happens when you mum and dad (mum and stepdad, dad and
stepmum, etc) disagree?

What does you dad do when he gets angry?

Did you ever hear or see your dad hurting your mum? What did you
do?

Who do you talk to about things that make you unhappy?

What kind of things make you scared or angry?

Do you worry about your mum and dad?

Adapted from The Childrens Subcommittee of the London (Ontario) Co-ordinating

Committee to End Woman Abuse (In Mullender and Morley 1994).

The Role of the Community Paediatrician.

Protect and support women and children.

Ensure safety.
Sources of support and protection.
Working Together 1999

Where there is evidence of domestic violence, the

implications for any children in the household should
be considered, including the possibility that the
children may themselves be subject to violence or
other harm
(Working Together 1999, p. 71).

Assessing the childs safety.

When was the most recent incident of abuse/violence?

Ask if the child feels able to give details about this incident?

Was their mother locked in a room or prevented from leaving the house?
Ask if either of these things have happened before?

Ask if alcohol or substance abuse was involved?

Were any weapons used or threatened to be used? Ask if any weapons

have been used or threatened to be used in the past?

Where were the childs siblings during the violence?

Have the police ever come to their house? And what happened?

What do they do when there is violence? Do they try to intervene? What

happens?

Adapted from The Childrens Subcommittee of the London (Ontario) Co-ordinating

Committee to End Woman Abuse (In Mullender and Morley 1994).

Domestic violence is likely to have a damaging effect

on the health and development of children, and it will
often be appropriate for such children to be regarded
as children in need.
(Working Together, Section 6.38).

Supporting Children.

Primary prevention work with all children and young

people.

Secondary prevention with those known to be living

with domestic abuse, to provide support and help
with safety strategies.
Tertiary prevention with those that need help in
recovering from their experiences after they have
safely left abusive situations.

The Role of the Community Paediatrician.

Effective multi-agency partnerships.

Inter-agency work,
Local public health policy.
Service development.

Develop professional practice/agency approach.

Safety.
Training,
Practice guidelines.

Conclusion.
The Role of the Community Paediatrician.

Take domestic violence seriously.

Protect and support women and children.

Effective multi-agency partnerships.

Develop professional practice/agency approach.