EXPLORING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN IN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE HOUSEHOLDS, IN ZIMBABWE, THE CASE OF EPWORTH AND GOROMONZI

The plight of children living in Intimate Partner violence Households is a commonly neglected area in research that seeks to address the pandemic of (IPV). The protection of children exposed to intimate partner violence has become a major issue of concern in recent years with one in every 3 women being exposed to intimate partner violence globally. In this paper, the researchers focused on the lived experiences of children in IPV Households. While anchoring on the qualitative research methodology, the research utilised in-depth interviews and focus group discussions in order to get the emic perspectives of the 12 child participants who were purposively selected to participate in the research from Goromonzi and Epworth, Zimbabwe. The study findings highlighted that children in IPV households experience many negative issues that compound their vulnerability and deprivations. Some children experiencer life threatening injuries while others even die in the process and many other live with thoughts of suicide as an escape from the IPV induced trauma in the households. The scar of exposure to IPV in the households haunt children in their daily and later lives and was found to be a key factor in reproducing the gendered nature of IPV and also was found to be responsible for the transgenerational existence of IPV. These situations are exacerbated by gaps in the delivery of services that are focused particularly on children in IPV households. The paper concludes by recommending that children be given agency and voice in addressing issues that affect their welfare and protection in the light of IPV.