Mental health effects of domestic violence against women in Delhi: A community-based study

Abstract

Background: Domestic violence (DV) against women is an all-pervasive phenomenon considered to have serious health consequences for women. This study aimed to assess the association of DV against women with their mental health status. Materials and Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out among 827 ever married women from Delhi selected through cluster sampling followed by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using structured and in-depth questionnaires. Mental health status was estimated using self-reporting questionnaire 20. Results: The prevalence of psychological, physical, sexual, physical, or sexual violence and any form of violence was very high. A quarter of the women (25.3%) reported unhealthy mental status (>8 score) in the past 4 weeks. Women who had experienced DV showed poor mental health status and more suicidal tendencies when compared with women who had not experienced violence. Conclusion: DV has significant effect on women's mental health underscoring the need to develop public health interventions.

Effect of intimate partner violence on maternal and birth outcomes of pregnancy among antenatal clinic attendees in Delhi: A prospective observational study

“…reported IPV prevalence to be 43.4% ever in life, and 37.8% in the past 12 months. [ 12 ] Hence, the findings overall highlight that the prevalence in the current study is similar to the figures reported in recent studies in similar settings. However, the figures in NFHS-4 show high under-reporting of the experience of violence during any pregnancy.…”

Prevalence of domestic violence against women in informal settlements in Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional survey

“…The reported prevalence of domestic violence was higher in rural 54–56 than in urban settings. The estimated lifetime prevalence of physical violence ranged from 18% 57 to 27%, 58 59 of sexual violence from 10% 57 to 26% 59 and of emotional violence from 20% 57 to 43% (this high estimate included questions on economic violence). 59 A cross-sectional survey similar to ours, of 1137 mothers aged 18–39 years in an informal settlement in Mumbai, found a lifetime prevalence of physical intimate partner violence of 17%, of emotional violence of 12% and of sexual violence of 5%.…”

“…The estimated lifetime prevalence of physical violence ranged from 18% 57 to 27%, 58 59 of sexual violence from 10% 57 to 26% 59 and of emotional violence from 20% 57 to 43% (this high estimate included questions on economic violence). 59 A cross-sectional survey similar to ours, of 1137 mothers aged 18-39 years in an informal settlement in Mumbai, found a lifetime prevalence of physical intimate partner violence of 17%, of emotional violence of 12% and of sexual violence of 5%. 60 Our findings also compare with the NFHS-4 for Maharashtra state, in which estimates of prevalence of intimate partner violence were based on interviews with 2472 ever-married women aged 15-49 years.…”

Domestic violence against women: A hidden and deeply rooted health issue in India

“…A multisectoral approach is needed to address this problem. [ 8 ] A study on the same topic done by Sarkar[ 9 ] in rural setting of West Bengal showed that the prevalence of domestic violence was 23.4%. Babu and Kar[ 10 ] reported the prevalence of domestic violence of 56.3% in eastern India; 60.7% in Orissa, 51.8% in West Bengal, and 58.9% in Jharkhand.…”

“…The most common form of lifetime physical violence was slapping and/beating (80.85%), kicking (68.09%), object throwing (43.62%), and choking and punching the women (29.79%), which was consistent with the findings of other studies. [ 4 8 9 10 12 14 18 ] According to NFHS III, the most common physical violence was slapping (34%) followed by twisting of arms or pulling of hairs (15.4%), throwing something (14%), kicking (12%), and choking (2%). [ 4 ] Humiliation was the most common form of emotional violence in this study and other studies.…”