Violence and Child Mental Health Outcomes in Iraq: Mapping Vulnerable Areas

Abstract

Few studies have been conducted in Iraq regarding the association of violence at multiple ecological levels and child mental health outcomes. Therefore, the study objectives were (1) to conduct a nationwide analysis to explore violence at multiple socio-ecological levels and children’s mental health outcomes, and (2) to identify the most vulnerable children according to the spatial distribution of Iraqi governorates. This cross-sectional study used the 2018 Iraq Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 6), which included 12,358 mothers or caretakers who provided complete information regarding their parenting and disciplinary practices for their children between the ages of 5 and 14. Logistic regression was employed to examine the factors associated with children’s depression and anxiety. This study showed that 22% of children had depression, while 38% experienced anxiety. Notably, children residing in Iraq’s south/central regions, specifically in areas, like Nainawa, Najaf, and Basrah, exhibited notably higher anxiety and depression. The research also showed that living in unsafe neighborhoods, women’s acceptance of domestic violence, and the use of severe physical punishment as corporal discipline were all associated with the development of anxiety and depression. This study addresses the scarcity of information on children’s mental health outcomes in Iraq at national and governorate levels, emphasizing the need for urgent national-level policy discussions to achieve key Sustainable Development Goals related to ending all forms of violence against children by 2030.