Correlates of domestic violence experience among recently-married women residing in slums in Pune, India

Abstract

The high risk of experiencing domestic violence (DV) among married women in India who reside in slum communities underscores the need for effective, evidence-based, and culturally-tailored primary prevention. To inform such DV primary prevention strategies for this population, we herein aimed to identify correlates of DV experience in early marriage. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, potential correlates of DV experience were explored among a geographically-clustered random sample of 100 recently-married women residing in slums in Pune, India. In multivariable regression, DV experience was associated with less educational attainment by the participant’s spouse (standardized β = -0.281, p = 0.004), less satisfaction of the spouse’s family with the maanpaan (wedding-related gifts provided by the bride’s family) they received at the time of marriage (standardized β = -0.298, p<0.001), poorer conflict negotiation skills (standardized β = -0.308, p<0.001), and greater acknowledgement of DV occurrence in family and friends (standardized β = 0.436, p<0.001). These correlates suggest strategies that could be incorporated into future DV primary prevention interventions for this vulnerable population (i.e. promoting completion of formal education of boys alongside girls, mitigating causes of familial dowry harassment, improving conflict negotiation skills, and challenging norms surrounding DV).

Prevalence, pattern and predictors of domestic violence against women in Delhi: a community based study

“…Such findings reflect deep-rooted gender inequalities of Indian society. 7,14,29,30 This study found that women having dependable family support were less likely to experience DV than their counterparts, which is comparable with few other studies. 7,15 This suggests the role of programs aimed at strengthening the family cohesion and bonding.…”

Physical, emotional and sexual violence faced by spouses in India: evidence on determinants and help-seeking behaviour from a nationally representative survey

“…These studies showed that the prevalence of women experiencing physical, psychological or sexual violence (inflicted by spouses) ranged from 17% to 59%. 8–13 National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3, 2005–2006) had a domestic violence module which addresses the physical, emotional and sexual violence among women of reproductive age group. 14 It showed that nearly 35% of women experienced physical violence, 16% faced emotional violence and about 10% experienced sexual violence from their husband/partners.…”

Community Organizing and Transformative Change in the Response to Domestic Violence in India

“…Studies on domestic violence in India have found high levels of normative acceptance of domestic violence (Jejeebhoy, 1998), and shown that tolerance of domestic violence in the community and justification of marital violence is associated with higher risk for perpetration of domestic violence (Begum et al, 2015; Kalokhe et al, 2018). Thus, intervening to interrupt and prevent domestic violence requires not only services for survivors and efforts to facilitate their empowerment at the individual level, but also shifts in community norms and facilitating the empowerment of community members who can effectively mobilize a community response to violence.…”