Spousal Violence Against Women in India: A Social–Ecological Analysis Using Data From the National Family Health Survey 2015 to 2016

Abstract

Even after enactment of the Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act 2005, over the last 10 years, the rate of decline of prevalence of spousal violence against women has remained low in India. This study attempts to explain the experience of spousal violence using a social–ecological framework. We analyzed the National Family Health Survey 2015 to 2016 (NFHS-4) data of 66,013 ever-married women aged 15 to 49 years. Participants in the domestic violence module of the NFHS-4 reported their experience of violence committed by their husband within the 12 months preceding the survey. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were done to determine the association between spousal violence and different explanatory variables of various levels of social ecology including variables on women’s empowerment. About one fourth of ever-married women reported experiencing any form of violence during the last year. The experience of spousal violence was significantly associated with social ecology at multiple levels. At the individual level, the odds of experiencing physical violence were higher among younger women, who married at a younger age, had an age gap of 3 to 4 years with her husband, and had more children. Women in vulnerable groups, with poor economic status, and members of marginalized communities had higher odds of experiencing spousal violence. Women had high odds of experiencing spousal violence if living in a social ecology with unfavorable social norms, higher rates of domestic crimes, and a higher prevalence of underage marriage. The association of spousal violence with women’s empowerment remained inconclusive. The results argue for manipulating contextual factors to empower women to challenge gender-related equations and investing in education for gender sensitization at the higher level social ecologies.

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

“…The odds of physical violence are greater for younger married women, with poorer socioeconomic position, and where underage marriage is common. 62 We found that 47% of women who had suffered violence had sought help from somebody. This is considerably more than the NFHS-4, which found that 14% of urban women who had experienced physical or sexual violence had sought help from any source, usually natal family, marital family, friend or neighbour.…”

More than individual factors; is there any contextual effect of unemployment, poverty and literacy on the domestic spousal violence against women? A multilevel analysis on Indian context

“…Women Characteristics (individual level predictors) associated with the prevalence of spousal violence of women were introduced in model-1 ( Table 4.2 ). Earlier study ( Ahmad et al, 2019 ) has shown that some degree of variation of women spousal violence could be explained by the individual level characteristics. Apart from this, model 0 ( Table 4.1 ) or unconditional model also confirmed to us that there has 20% variance of women spousal violence between states is at level-2 and rest of it at level-1.…”

“…Spousal violence mainly occurs in romantic relationships where one partner plays a dominant role and exerts his/her power over the others. Like other developing countries, in India spousal violence is still prevalent and about 33% ever-married women have ever experienced spousal physical, sexual or emotional violence from their current husband or most recent husband and 26% have experienced at least one in the 12 months preceding the survey ( Ahmad et al, 2019 ; International Institute for Population Sciences [ IIPS] & ICF, 2017 ). National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS) also reported that 30% ever married women have experienced spousal physical violence where only 7% have experienced sexual violence and emotion violence only reported by 14% ever-married women in ever.…”

“…Among the several dominating factors responsible for spousal violence against women, economic condition of the victims is found to be a most important factor. Many researchers have shown that spousal violence against women is higher among economically weaker families compared to rich families ( Ahmad et al, 2019 ; Antai, 2011 ; James et al, 2013 ) but it is amatter of controversy. Theoretically spousal violence is not confined within a particular economic class that’s why more research is required for detail understanding in connection between poverty and spousal violence against women ( WHO 2005 ).…”

“…Theoretically spousal violence is not confined within a particular economic class that’s why more research is required for detail understanding in connection between poverty and spousal violence against women ( WHO 2005 ). Some theorists argue that gender dominance is the main foundation of spousal violence ( Ahmad et al, 2019 ; Roberts, 2002 ) while assailants of such violation are stand in safe position in community life without any blame because of their force to endure. Apart from these, the cruel incidence of spousal violence against women has also determined by several socioeconomic, demographic and environmental factors in different context such as place of residence, level of education of both partner, affiliation to a particular religion and ethnic group, age at marriage, age gap between partner, household size, number of living children in a family, level of women autonomy, level of women empowerment, smoking habit and drug use of husband etc ( Ahmad et al, 2019 ; Chan, 2011 ; Sambisa 2011 ; Hussain et al, 2017 ; Kavitha, 2012 ; Mamdouh et al, 2012 ).…”