Alcázar, L. y Ocampo, D. (2016). Consecuencias de la violencia doméstica contra la mujer en el progreso escolar de los niños y niñas del Perú (Documentos de Investigación N° 80). Lima: GRADE.

Violence against women is a major problem that not only has enormous consequences for the direct victims. It also disrupts the entire family environment, and undermines the integral development of boys and girls.

Using data from the Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES), this study estimates the effect that gender-based violence has on the probability of children repeating the school year.

Violence in the home generates a climate of tension that impedes the normal cognitive and skill development of children. At the same time, mothers who are victims of violence are less able to provide their children with the care and attention they need, which contributes to reducing children’s skill development. These two effects are often reflected in poorer school performance compared to their non-victimized peers. On the other hand, the study finds no evidence that domestic violence against the mother has a differential effect between girls and boys.