Association between women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and nutrition status in under-five Malawian children: A cross-sectional analysis of 2015-2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a global problem with consequences for women’s health and the well-being of their children, particularly those under five years of age. IPV undermines women’s physical and mental health, limits their ability to provide adequate care and nutrition, and may contribute to child malnutrition. While IPV is prevalent in Malawi, the effects of specific types of IPV on child nutritional outcomes have not been fully evaluated. This study examined the association between women’s exposure to IPV (physical, emotional, and sexual) and under-five children’s nutritional status, including stunting, wasting, and underweight, to determine which form of violence has the greatest influence. Methods A cross-sectional secondary analysis of the 2015–2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) was conducted. The women’s dataset was merged with children’s data, and analysis was restricted to women aged 15–49 with at least one under-five child with complete information on IPV and nutritional status. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between IPV exposure and nutritional outcomes. Results A total of 4,548 mother–child pairs were included. The mean age of moth0ers was 20.4 years (SD = 9.4). Thirty-six percent of women reported experiencing IPV, and 40% of the children were malnourished. Children of women exposed to IPV had significantly higher odds of malnutrition (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02–1.31; AOR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.04–1.34) compared to those unexposed. Emotional violence emerged as the strongest predictor of child malnutrition (OR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.01–1.65; AOR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.03–1.57). The association between IPV and child nutritional status remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion Exposure to emotional violence was significantly associated with poor nutritional outcomes among under-five children in Malawi. Children of women who experienced emotional IPV were more likely to be malnourished than those of women not exposed. These findings underscore the need for integrated interventions addressing both IPV and child nutrition. Strengthening policies and programs that protect women from violence while supporting maternal and child health may contribute to reducing the dual burden of IPV and malnutrition in Malawi.