Abstract summary 

In South Africa, women disproportionately bear the burden of intimate partner violence (IPV), HIV or AIDS, and poor mental health.This study investigated parenting practices among women affected by IPV, HIV and poor mental health syndemics.The study was conducted in two sites, a peri-urban area and a rural area in Mpumalanga, South Africa.A qualitative research design using a narrative approach with in-depth interviews supported by arts-based methods was used. Data were analysed thematically using MAXQDA (2022).20 women aged 20-60 who screened positive for HIV, IPV and/or poor mental health in a larger three-generational cohort study were selected.Living with the syndemics exacerbated socioeconomic challenges that often translated into an inability to meet basic child needs. Socioeconomic challenges also led to more harsh parenting practices among women living with IPV-Mental Health and HIV-Mental Health syndemics. Due to lack of trust from family members, women living with the HIV-Mental Health-IPV syndemic were often separated from their children. These women exhibited less harsh parenting practices than the women in the other syndemic groups when they did see their children. A history of childhood trauma, leading to overprotective parenting, was common across the groups except for the IPV-Mental Health group. Women in the IPV-Mental Health group often had strained relations with their children's fathers, affecting their engagement and connection with their children.The study underlines challenges experienced by women with IPV-Mental Health, HIV-Mental Health and HIV-Mental Health-IPV syndemics. The overlap of these epidemics strains women's relationships and affects women's parenting practices detrimentally resulting in an inadequate provision for children's needs.

Authors & Co-authors:  Silima Mpho M Christofides Nicola Joan NJ Franchino-Olsen Hannabeth H Woollett Nataly N Meinck Franziska F

Study Outcome 

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