Violence Against Women During Pregnancy in India: A Literature Review (original) (raw)
Related papers
Violent Motherhood: Prevalence and Factors Affecting Violence Against Pregnant Women in India
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2018
Violence against women is widely recognized as a serious public health problem in the world. Especially violence against pregnant women has more severe health consequences for both women and child. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence and factors affecting violence during pregnancy in India. Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)–4 are used to analyze this study. NFHS is a series of demographic health surveys conducted in India. Information on violence against pregnant women was collected for the first time in NFHS-4. Univariate and multivariate analyses are used to show the factors affecting violence during pregnancy. Study results reveal that the prevalence of violence varied among states from 0.5% to 9%, and women in South India were at a greater risk of abuse during pregnancy than that of women in other parts of India. Women with no education, women in poor household, women having three and more children, and women from rural area are at greater r...
Abuse against women in pregnancy: a population-based study from Eastern India
Background: Violence against women is widely recognized as an important public health problem. However, the magnitude of the problem among pregnant women is not well known in several parts of India. Hence, the prevalence and characteristics associated with various forms of domestic violence against women in pregnancy were studied in Eastern India. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional sample survey covering married women with a history of at least one full-term pregnancy (n 1525) was carried out in the Orissa, West Bengal and Jharkhand states of India. Interviews were conducted using a pre-piloted structured questionnaire to inquire about physical, psychological and sexual domestic violence. Data on socioeconomic characteristics and behaviours were also collected. The association of independent variables with domestic violence were examined by using logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of physical, psychological and sexual domestic violence during a recent pregnancy was found to be 7.1%, 30.6% and 10.4% respectively, and the lifetime prevalence during all pregnancies was 8.3%, 33.4% and 12.6% respectively. Urban living, higher maternal age and husbands' alcoholism were the factors associated with domestic violence in pregnancy. Women belonging to lower social groups were less likely to have physical domestic violence. Factors such as higher prevalence of undesirable behaviours like denying adequate rest and diet, demand for more sex, not providing antenatal care and pressure for male child were also associated with domestic violence in pregnancy. Conclusions: Considerable proportions of women experience some type of domestic violence during pregnancy. Health-care providers should be able to recognize and respond to pregnant women's victimization and refer them for appropriate support and care.
Epidemiology International, 2018
Apparently healthy pregnant women with a gestational age of < 20 weeks were interviewed about sociodemographic details, marital history, antenatal history and presence of domestic violence. Of the 428 pregnant women, 31.3% suffered from domestic violence. Emotional and verbal abuse (58.2%) was the most common form. Women with younger age at marriage and with assisted conception were at a higher risk for suffering from domestic violence. Pregnant wives of men with a lower level of education, unemployment or employment as unskilled labourers and addiction to alcohol and tobacco were at higher risk for domestic violence.
Indian Journal of Community Health, 2021
Background: Domestic violence during pregnancy endangers the health of the mother and her child. Aim and Objective: To ascertain the knowledge and attitudes towards domestic violence among pregnant women in India and to find out their sociodemographic predictors. Settings and design: This cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a prospective study was conducted at the antenatal care (ANC) clinic of a major tertiary care government hospital in New Delhi from 2015-2018. Methods and material: The data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 1500 pregnant women up to 20 weeks of gestation. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 24.6 (3.6) years. All the participants were married. A total of 1169 (77.9%) participants were aware of domestic violence. The participant comprehension of the types of domestic violence was highest for physical (89.9%), emotional (68.4%), economical (21.5%), and sexual (...
Bioscience trends
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health issue that threatens the reproductive health of women. Despite a growing demand for research on the potential threat of IPV in relation to adverse reproductive outcomes, there have been no population-based studies of India. The current study analyzed the National Family Health Survey 3, which contained detailed information on types of violence in relation to the single question of pregnancy outcomes. The dataset was used to assess the association between a lifetime experience of IPV and terminated pregnancies among married Indian women. Multiple logistic regression analysis was then used to assess the association between these variables, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics. Results showed that 39.6% of Indian women have experienced violence by their husbands, while 18.3% of women have terminated a pregnancy during their lifetimes. The odds ratio of a terminated pregnancy among women who had experienced any type ...
2013
Background: At least one-third of women in India experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at some point in adulthood. Our objectives were to describe the prevalence of IPV during pregnancy and after delivery in an urban slum setting, to review its social determinants, and to explore its effects on maternal and newborn health. Methods: We did a cross-sectional study nested within the data collection system for a concurrent trial. Through urban community surveillance, we identified births in 48 slum areas and interviewed mothers~6 weeks later. After collecting information on demographic characteristics, socioeconomic indicators, and maternal and newborn care, we asked their opinions on the justifiability of IPV and on their experience of it in the last 12 months. Results: Of 2139 respondents, 35% (748) said that violence was justifiable if a woman disrespected her in-laws or argued with her husband, failed to provide good food, housework and childcare, or went out without permission. 318 (15%, 95% CI 13, 16%) reported IPV in the year that included pregnancy and the postpartum period. Physical IPV was reported by 247 (12%, 95% CI 10, 13%), sexual IPV by 35 (2%, 95% CI 1, 2%), and emotional IPV by 167 (8%, 95% CI 7, 9). 219 (69%) women said that the likelihood of IPV was either unaffected by or increased during maternity. IPV was more likely to be reported by women from poorer families and when husbands used alcohol. Although 18% of women who had suffered physical IPV sought clinical care for their injuries, seeking help from organizations outside the family to address IPV itself was rare. Women who reported IPV were more likely to have reported illness during pregnancy and use of modern methods of family planning. They were more than twice as likely to say that there were situations in which violence was justifiable (odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.7, 3.4). Conclusions: One in seven women suffered IPV during or shortly after pregnancy. The elements of the violent milieu are mutually reinforcing and need to be taken into account collectively in responding to both individual cases and framing public health initiatives.
Intimate Partner Violence Effects on Maternity Care and Pregnancy Outcomes in India
Economic and Political Weekly, 2019
Unless India acts on all important causes, including intimate partner violence, that are hindering improvements in reproductive, maternal, and child health outcomes, the sustainable development goals related to health will remain difficult to achieve. Using the National Family Health Survey 2015–16, it is found that intimate partner violence has adverse impacts on the pregnancy outcomes, maternal and newborns’ health, and related healthcare access.
Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2020
Context:Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of their human rights. Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy has been linked to various adverse maternal health outcomes and birth outcomes.Aims:The aim of this study is to assess the magnitude of maternal complications and adverse birth outcomes in relation to IPV.Settings and Design:Prospective observational study was conducted from April 2015 to May 2018 in the antenatal clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi.Subjects and Methods:Sample of 1500 pregnant women (≤20 weeks gestation) were recruited and followed up at regular intervals, up to the birth outcome.Statistical Analysis Used:Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. Value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Prevalence of IPV at baseline was 29.7%. Significantly higher proportion of IPV victims (47.2%) had poor weight gain during the pregnancy. Subjects reporting violence at any of the study contacts had a higher incidence of preterm delivery (12.7%), and a significantly higher incidence of low birth weight in the newborns (32.1% vs 22.3%) (P < 0.05).Conclusions:The findings reveal that IPV during pregnancy is common and significantly associated with adverse maternal and birth outcomes. The findings stress need for research and development of a screening tool to identify violence early in pregnancy and thus prevent its consequences.
Situation of Domestic Violence among Pregnant Women in Eastern Nepal
Abstract Background Gender-based violence (GBV) is viewed as a private or family matter. However, there has been a shift in thinking in the last few years about this topic and it is now viewed as both a public health problem and a human rights violation. Terai belts of Nepal accounts for an estimated (9%) of all domestic violence cases. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in the selected health institutions of Sunsari and Siraha district. This study was conducted from October 21 to November 25, 2013. Purposive sampling technique was used to select participants for study. A structured questionnaire was used to interview pregnant women and the interview was conducted by a staff nurse who had training on psycho-social counselling. Results A total of 144 (67%) respondents out of 215 experienced domestic violence during their pregnancy. Among violated respondents, 88.19 percent faced emotional/psychological violence followed by sexual (61.1%), economic (50.7%) and physical (47.2%) violence. Half of the women (50.61%)kept the incident secret as they took it as their family affairs.Muslim/Chouroute caste respondents had high prevalence of violence as compared to other caste. Prevalence of DV was more in the respondents performing love marriage as compared to arrange marriage but there was no statically significant (P = 0.580) association between type of marriage and experience of DV. The duration of marriage was found to be statically significant (P = 0.003). Husband was found to be the perpetrator in most of the case followed by mother-in-law. Conclusion Domestic violence is both a public health problem and a human right issue. Three in quarter of women are still facing violence during their pregnancy. Caste, age and type of marriage were found to be associated factors. Keywords (Cross-sectional study; Pregnancy;Domestic Violence; Gender; Terai)
FACTORS RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING PREGNANCY AMONG MARRIED WOMEN OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN
Purpose: Domestic violence against females is an important societal issue and the researches shows that one out of every 5 women experiences it from the male partner. The purpose of study was to examine the factors related to domestic violence during pregnancy among married females of Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study was carried out. There were 140 females selected through multistage sampling technique from four different towns of Lahore. SPSS 19 has been used for data analysis which showed in the form of frequencies and percentages. Results: The results showed that 77.1% women married at the age of 20 years or less. Just 14.3% women having secondary and tertiary education. More than half of the participants 69.3% had family history of violence, 63.6% had patriarchal dominance, 65% had smoking and abused verbally.it showed that 85.7% of pregnant women having domestic violence in their life time. Domestic violence may be in the form of psychological, physical, sexual, or verbal abuse which were 85.7%, 75%, 66% and 65% respectively. Conclusion: Domestic violence is still very high in our country which is just not affect pregnant women but also their babies. Therefore, there is more chances of preterm labor in those women who experienced domestic violence like depression, harassment, scolding from her male partner which can further complicate the situation. So cautions must be taken in light of this research to place the female as well as the child at safer side as much as possible by mitigating the risk factors.