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Table of Content Volume 6 Issue 3 - June 2018
Factors associated with domestic violence in ever married women in urban slum of Latur
Sathe P D1, Holambe V M2*, Jiwane N N3
1Taluka Health Officer, Saoli Dist Chandrapur, Maharashtra, INDIA. 2Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra, INDIA. 3Assistant Professor, Government Medical College, Chandrapur, Maharashtra, INDIA. Email: drprakash2582@gmail.com
Abstract Background: Violence against women and girls continues to be a global epidemic that kills, tortures, and maims – physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. In India the prevalence of domestic violence was nearly 39.7%(NFHS-3). Being a confidential, intimate, sensitive and stigma associated with it, domestic violence is hidden and grossly underreported in India including Maharashtra. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted with the aim to find out the prevalence of different types of domestic violence against ever married women in reproductive age group (15-45 years ) and factors associated with community-based, cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study design. All the ever-married women in the reproductive age group residing in an urban slum of Latur were included in the study.A pre-designed, pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was used. Data was collected by interview technique after obtaining informed consent. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were applied by using IBM SPSS 21.O version. Results: The present study found that the overall prevalence of domestic violence against ever married women was 55.83%.In the present study alcohol addiction of the husbands (p<0.001), their unemployment(p<0.001), low educational status of both the women( p<0.05)and their husbands (p<0.05), having only female issues(p<0.05) and low socioeconomic status of the family (p<0.05) were found to be the leading causes behind domestic violence. Age, age at marriage, religion, marital status and consanguinity were found not to be associated with domestic violence where as love marriage, nuclear family, possession of property and social support were found to be protective against it. Conclusion: As the prevalence of domestic violence is more in urban slums, more attention is needed. Many societal norm and gender roles which are unfavorable to women needs to be challenged. Unless such norms are broken women will continue to experience domestic violence Key Words: Domestic violence, factors associated, married women, urban slum.
INTRODUCTION Violence against women and girls continues to be a global epidemic that kills, tortures, and maims – physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. In the Indian context some of the social norms and cultural practices has been brutally adverse to the women. They perhaps have never experienced equal rights and freedom compared to their male counterparts. The subordinate status of women combined with socio cultural norms that are inclined towards patriarchy and masculinity can be considered as an important factor determining the domestic violence.1 NFHS-3 of India revealed that married women were more likely to experience violence by their husbands than by anyone else and the prevalence was nearly 39.7%.2 Being a confidential, intimate, sensitive and stigma associated with it, domestic violence is hidden and grossly underreported in India including Maharashtra ;urban slums being most vulnerable for domestic violence.
MATERIAL AND METHODS The present study was conducted with the aim to find out the prevalence of different types of domestic violence against ever married women in reproductive age group (15-45 years) and factors associated with it. It was a community-based, cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study conducted in Patel chowk area, ward no.1, Latur, (urban slum) which is also the Urban Health Centre field practice area of Government Medical College, Latur. (Patel chowk area has 4 wards out of which 1 ward was selected randomly by lottery method.) Study population: All the ever-married women in the reproductive age group (15-45 years) residing in the area. Inclusion Criteria: All the ever-married women of 15-45 years of age, permanent residents of Patel chowk, ward no.1. Exclusion Criteria: All un-married women and married women above 45 years of age; mother in law; non-cooperative women who refused to furnish necessary information; women who were seriously physically or mentally ill. Study Duration: December 2013 to November 2014.Ethical clearance for study was taken from the institutional ethical committee of Government Medical College, Latur, before starting the study. A pre-designed, pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was used. Home visits were carried out, and face to face interview with the study subjects was done in the absence of their guardian/husband but in the presence of a female health worker/female intern by the Principal Investigator. The purpose of the study was explained to the participants and informed consent was obtained. Domestic violence: Operational definition of domestic violence was used as per definition of the United Nations as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life”.3 Information was taken about the socio-demographic profile of the study population and any occurrence of domestic violence (both physical and psychological) imparted to them either during current period, life time or both. Current violence: Presence of domestic violence in the last one year was regarded as current violence. Life time violence: Presence of domestic violence any time in their lifetime, but before one year was regarded as life time violence. Statistical analysis: Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were applied and statistical analysis was done by using IBM SPSS 21.O version. Out of 206 study subjects 115 i.e. 55.83% ever suffered from psychological or physical violence. There are maximum i.e. 111 study subjects in the age group of 21-25 years out of which 58 i.e. 52.25% suffered from Domestic Violence. Out of 24 study subjects below 20 years of age 13 i.e. 54.17% suffered from Domestic Violence. There were 59 and 12 study subjects in 26-35and 36-45 age group respectively of which 37 i.e. 62.71% and 7 i.e. 58.33% suffered from Domestic Violence. Out of 206 study subjects 122 (59.22%) married before the age of 19 years, out of which 70 (57.38%) study subjects suffered from Domestic Violence and out of 84 (40.78%) study subjects who married after the age of 19 years 45 i.e. 53.57% suffered from Domestic Violence. Out 116 Hindu study subjects 68 i.e. 58.62%, out of 78 Muslim study subjects 41 i.e. 52.56% and out of 11 Buddhist study 6 i.e. 54.5%5 study subjects suffered from Domestic Violence.
Table 1: Relation of Domestic Violence with Educational status of the study subjects
Fisher’s Exact test value 14.837; p<0.05: Out of 177 Unemployed study subjects 101 i.e. 57.06% suffered from Domestic Violence. Out of 14 Unskilled and 15 Semi-skilled, Skilled and other working study subjects 10 i.e. 71.43% and 4 i.e. 26.67% study subjects suffered from Domestic Violence. There is no association between occupational status of study subjects and Domestic Violence. Table 2: Relation of Domestic Violence and Education of husbands
Fisher’s Exact test value 14.858; p<0.05
Table 3: Relation of Domestic Violence to Occupational status of husbands of study subjects
Fisher’s Exact test value 32.645; p<0.001
Table 4: Relation of Socioeconomic status to Domestic Violence
Fisher’s Exact test value 11.379; p<0.05
16 study subjects had love marriage out of which 5 i.e. 31.25% suffered from Domestic Violence and 190 study subjects had arranged marriage out of which 110 i.e. 57.89% suffered from Domestic Violence. Love marriage is protective against Domestic Violence. Chi-square value 3.903; df 1; p<0.05 There were 82 consanguineous marriages out of which 41 i.e. 50% suffered from Domestic Violence and there were 124 Non-consanguineous marriages out of which 74 i.e. 59.68% suffered from Domestic Violence. Though Consanguineous marriages shows slight lower prevalence of Domestic Violence the difference is not statistically significant.103 study subjects had Nuclear families out of which 50 i.e. 48.54% suffered from Domestic Violence and 103 Non-nuclear families out which 65 i.e. 63.15% suffered from Domestic Violence. Nuclear families are significantly protective against Domestic Violence. Almost all i.e. 204 study subjects were married out of which 133 i.e. 55.39% suffered from Domestic Violence and out of the remaining two study subjects one was Widow and the other Separated. Both of them suffered from Domestic Violence. Table 5: Relation of Domestic Violence to Alcoholic addiction of husband
Chi-square value 57.286; df 1; p<0.001
Table 6: Relation of Domestic Violence to study subjects having only female issues
Chi-square value 6.26; df 1; p<0.05
Table 7: Relation of Domestic Violence to Property status of study subjects
Chi-square Value 14.88; df 1; p<0.001 Table 8: Relation of Domestic Violence to Social support of the study subjects
Chi-square Value 10.77; df 1; p<0.001
DISCUSSION The following table shows comparison of prevalence of domestic violence in the index study and in the cities where study has been conducted by INCLEN4
Table 9
*present study As far as the relation of education with the domestic violence is concern, in the present study it was inversely and significantly associated with it. Prevalence of domestic violence among illiterate was 75% as compared to 40.91% and 20% among higher secondary and graduate women respectively. Similar findings were found in the study conducted by Nanda Priya et al5 in which prevalence of domestic violence among illiterate women was 41% and among graduates women was 13%. Similarly in the NFHS-3 survey 46% of illiterate women and 12% of women educated up to higher secondary and above suffered from domestic violence. The reason for such a positive impact of education may be that an educated women is empowered, facilitating her ability to gather and assimilate information and effectively deal with the situations. Also a well-educated women is most likely to have a better and equally qualified husband. As regard the education of husbands, it is also inversely and significantly associated with domestic violence against women in the present study and many other similar studies.2,5 In the present study maximum domestic violence was observed in the study subjects who were unskilled labors (71.43%) as far as occupation was concerned. The prevalence of domestic violence among unemployed study subjects was 57.06%. Though the prevalence of domestic violence among skilled labors, semi-professionals and women doing service or business was lower (26.67%) the overall difference was not statistically significant. In the NFHS-3 survey 43% of employed women experienced domestic violence as compared to 32% among unemployed women. In many other studies6,7,8,9 It has been found that employed women are at higher risk of domestic violence. As far as occupation of husbands is concerned better the occupation of husbands lesser they perpetrated violence. 91.67% of unemployed husbands compared to 53.61% employed husbands perpetrated violence, which was significant and similar findings were found in some other studies.10,11,12 Socioeconomic status was significantly and inversely associated with the domestic violence in the present study. Prevalence of violence among lower class subjects was 68.18% compared to 38.71% among upper middle class. In the study done by Abantika Battacharya et al prevalence of domestic violence among lower class was 52.38% and among upper middle class was 22.22%. In the NFHS-3 survey the prevalence of violence among lowest wealth quintile was 52% and among highest wealth quintile was 20.9%. Alcohol addiction of the husbands of the study population had profound effect on domestic violence. 85.56% of study subjects suffered domestic violence whose husbands were addicted to alcohol compared to 32.76% of study subjects whose husbands were not addicted to alcohol. NFHS-3 survey showed that 71.5% of women experienced domestic violence whose husbands drinks often, compared to 32.9% whose husbands do not drink alcohol. Corroborative findings have been found in many other studies.4,7,8,9,10,12 Because alcohol has depressant effect on the inhibitory control, violence gets escalated during trivial situations. As regards the type of marriage, 31.25% of study subjects suffered domestic violence who had love marriages, against 57.89% of study subjects who had arranged marriage. Similar findings were found in the study done by Mahapatro M et al8in which prevalence of domestic violence was two times more in women with arranged marriage than among women with love marriage. But in the study done by Corinne H. Rocca et al women in love marriage had more risk of domestic violence. As regard consanguinity is concerned, in the present study domestic violence is slightly less (50%) in consanguineous marriage than non- consanguineous marriages (59.68) but the difference was not significant. In the present study prevalence of domestic violence against women who lived in nuclear families ( 48.54%) was less than the women who lived in joint families (65.31%) and the difference was significant. In the study done by Manisha Ruikar et al11 also prevalence of domestic violence was less in nuclear families (48.2%) than joint families (51.8%) but the difference was not significant and similar findings were found in some other studies.9 Some other studies6,7 found that women in nuclear families experienced more domestic violence. As regards the marital status is concerned index study and some other studies6 found no significant association with it. Prevalence of domestic violence among the study subjects who had only female issue was quiet more (69.49%) than the study subjects who had at least one male issue (30.51%)in the index study. Not having a male issue was the reason for domestic violence in many other studies.9 It shows high degree of preference for male issue in the society. In the present study, study subjects who had some form of property belonging to them suffered much less domestic violence (28.21%) than those who had no any property (62.28%). Similarly study subjects who had some form of social support suffered less (51.14%) domestic violence than those who had no any social support (83.33%) and it was pertinent with the findings of some other studies.4 In the present study alcohol addiction of the husbands, their unemployment, low educational status of both the women and their husbands, having only female issues and low socioeconomic status of the family were found to be the leading causes behind domestic violence. Age, age at marriage, religion, marital status and consanguinity were found not to be associated with domestic violence where as love marriage, nuclear family, possession of property and social support were found to be protective against it.
RECOMMENDATIONS As the prevalence of domestic violence is more in urban slums, more attention is needed towards those vulnerable women folk residing in these areas. The women should be empowered by making available to them better opportunities of education and employment and increasing their participation in the decision making processes. Availability of alcohol, which is one of the major cause of domestic violence, should be reduced. REFERENCES
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