1. Domestic violence and consequent health disorders in Indian women
Centre for International Health Curtin University
Domestic violence and consequent health disorders in Indian women
Andreia Schineanu, PhD student
Supervisor: Associate Professor Paola Ferroni
Associate Supervisor: Dr Jaya Earnest

2. Introduction
DV is part of a pattern of abusive behaviour and control and includes
repeated physical assault,
ongoing psychological abuse
forced sexual intercourse
Main causes of DV in India are
perceived male superiority,
low status of women in society
poverty
alcohol abuse
inadequate dowry
presence of in-laws and
absence of male child
Effects of DV include
physical injuries
STD’s
unwanted pregnancies
mental disorders
death (homicide or suicide)

3. Rationale
Very little research data on the relationship between DV and mental and emotional health (MEH) in Indian women
Research from western countries has shown significant causative relationship between DV and common mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Underlying causes of MEH problems in victims of violence are DIFFERENT to the causes of MEH in non-abused women.

4. Objectives
To determine the prevalence and incidence rates of DV in an urban population of Indian women
To investigate the relationship between DV and mental and emotional health
To establish the main socio-cultural factors that contribute to DV
To document coping behaviours and patterns
To investigate the relationship between MEH and coping behaviour

5. Methods Non-experimental, cross-sectional, retrospective
Sample size of 907 women
Participants selected randomly from a Mumbai slum
Selected only currently married women
Questionnaire gathered data on demographic characteristics, health, social network, stressors and coping mechanisms, levels of autonomy, marital harmony
Use of psychometric test to establish levels of depression (GHQ 12)
Analysis of quantitative data was facilitated using SPSS

6. Results - demographics
Mean age was years, ( for men)
53.2% Hindu, 42.2% Buddhist, 4.6% other
1 in 10 illiterate, 32.2% had primary and 45.2% high school
Mean age at marriage and married for years
Fertility rate was children per woman
43.7% used contraceptive, majority had tubal ligation
26% reported ill health, 1/3 psychosomatic complaints
89.4% use western style health care provider
61.3% had no paid work (children care, husband did not allow)
30.1% are members of mahila mandal (women’s group)
90.6% receive support from mahila mandal
47.4% of respondents were depressed

7. Experiences of domestic violence
Results
Experiences of domestic violence
26.4%
20.8%
18.4%
14.6% 7

8. Factors that contribute to incidences of DV
Results
Factors that contribute to incidences of DV
Lack of education for both men and women
Women who are illiterate are over 3 times more likely to experience psychological and physical violence than those who have college education.
Women whose husbands are illiterate are twice as likely to experience physical violence than those whose husbands attended high school and 4 times as likely than those whose husbands attended college
Lack of social support
Women who are not members of a support group are 2.4 times more likely to be abused than women who are members. 8

9. Factors that contribute to experiences of DV
Results
Factors that contribute to experiences of DV
Autonomy
A woman who is solely responsible for decisions regarding her health is 4 times more likely to experience domestic violence than a woman who makes decisions regarding her health jointly with her husband
Women who work are 1.4 times more likely to be abused than women who don’t work. 9

10. Relationship between DV and depression
Results
Relationship between DV and depression
Type of violence
Exp (B)
95% CI (Lower – Upper)
Any domestic violence
2.985
2.19 – 4.07
Psychological violence
2.289
1.64 – 3.19
Physical violence
2.376
1.67 – 3.37
Sexual violence
5.116
3.29 – 7.95 10

11. Limitations Cross sectional study Under-reporting of DV
Research confined to a limited geographical location

12. Acknowledgements Many thanks to the following people:
All the women who participated in the study
Goretti, Rohini, Supriya, Prajakta, Karuna and Meenal from KJ Somaiya Hospital, Mumbai, India
Paola, Jaya, Ali and Leanne from CIH
Fredrik, Alex, Nicholas and Emilia, my family
This project was partly funded by the Mary Walters Bursary, AFUW, WA Inc.