Prevalence of violence by husband against wife is an indicator of women's status at household level. The objective of the study is to understand the relationship between domestic violence and women's empowerment in a slum community in Mumbai, India. Data were collected from a sample of 1,136 married women aged 18 to 39 years having at least one child and reporting of unmet need for family planning. Domestic violence by husband against wife was measured in terms of either physical, sexual, or emotional violence. Three logit regression analyses were carried out using decision-making power, freedom of movement, and justified wife beating as dependent variables separately and socio-demographic and economic variables as independent variables. Furthermore, the relationship between domestic violence and women's decision-making power, freedom of movement, and justified wife-beating index has been explored. About 21% of women had ever experienced violence, and 38% of women had decision-making power with respect to own health care, household purchase, or visiting family and relatives. A little more than one fifth of the women reported freedom of movement to market, health facilities, or places outside the community. Women who justified wife beating were 2.29 (95% CI [1.59, 3.29]) times at risk of experiencing violence than women who disagreed with the wife-beating statements. Women not empowered in decision making were 1.15 (95% CI [0.91, 1.46]) times at risk of experiencing domestic violence than women who were empowered in decision making. Women who are empowered are less likely to be at risk of domestic violence. Programs aimed at empowering women must address socio-cultural norms relating to justification of violence in marriage.

Background & objectives:Domestic violence is identified as a public heath problem. It is associated with adverse maternal health. This study examined the prevalence and determinants of domestic violence among women in urban slums of Mumbai, India.Methods:A community based cross-sectional household survey was carried out among eligible women for the study during September 2012 to January 2013. A total of 1137 currently married women aged 18-39 yr with unmet need for family planning and having at least one child were selected using cluster systematic random sampling from two urban slums. Information on socio-demographic, reproductive and domestic violence was collected through face-to-face interview using a pretested structured questionnaire after obtaining informed written consent. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to find the socio-demographic factors associated with ever experienced domestic violence among women.Results:The prevalence of women ever experiencing domestic violence in the community was 21.2 per cent. Women whose husband consumed alcohol [RR: 2.17, (95% CI: 1.58-2.98)] were significantly at an increased risk of ever experiencing domestic violence than their counterparts. Risk of domestic violence was twice [RR: 2.00, (95% CI: 1.35-2.96)] for women who justified wife beating than women who did not justify wife beating.Interpretation & conclusions:The findings showed that domestic violence was prevalent in urban slums. Factors like early marriage, working status, justified wife beating and husbands use of alcohol were significantly associated with domestic violence.

Background: Unmet need for family planning is a tool to monitor the family planning program. Hence, the objective of study is to examine the prevalence of unmet need for family planning among women living in urban slum communities, Mumbai. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted among currently married women aged 18-39 years and having at least one child. A total of 2797 women were selected using systematic random sampling. Information on demographic characteristics, their contraceptive behaviour and fertility intention were collected by face to face interview using structured questionnaire. Chi square test was applied and p <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: About 59.4% were currently using family planning methods and 40.6% have reported unmet need for family planning. Awareness of contraceptive methods among women with unmet need for family planning was universal. The prevalence of unmet need for family planning significantly decreased as the age and number of children increased. The prevalence of unmet need was significantly higher than met need for family planning among women having one child as compared to women having 2 or more children. Conclusions: A significant gap was observed between met and unmet need for family planning among younger women and having one child. The study emphasises the need for family planning programs to focus on younger couples having one child.

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The present research work investigates the slope instability along NH-05 near Jhakri, Himachal Pradesh, India. Initially, field investigation has been conducted to study the slope morphometry and characteristics. The studied landslides trends along NW-SE direction with height 27.26 m from the road surface and at an angle of 63 vertically post failure. Parameters responsible for slope stability such as particle size distribution, Atterberg Limit and shear strength parameters were collected through direct shear plot using soil samples collected from field. The results reveal that the soil coarse to fine loamy with no surface vegetation long the landslide areas. The absence of vegetation exposes the soil for erosion during high monsoon rainfall. Based on the shear test results the value of c and Phi is 10.28 kPa and 18.8 . 2 D limit equilibrium model has been used using Rocscience software for slope stability assessment. LEM model reveals a safety factor value 0.43 which is less than the value considered for stale slopes. Reenforced bench slope with soil nailing has been suggested as a suitable stabilization measure with a FOS value of 1.2 which reveals the slope can be stabilized with the mentioned approach.