Help seeking behavior by women experiencing intimate partner violence in india: A machine learning approach to identifying risk factors.

Nabamallika Dehingia,Abhishek Singh,Anita Raj,Julian Mcauley,Arnab K Dey,Lotus Mcdougal,Yukiko Washio

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0262538

Abstract

Despite the low prevalence of help-seeking behavior among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in India, quantitative evidence on risk factors, is limited. We use a previously validated exploratory approach, to examine correlates of help-seeking from anyone (e.g. family, friends, police, doctor etc.), as well as help-seeking from any formal sources. We used data from a nationally-representative health survey conducted in 2015-16 in India, and included all variables in the dataset (~6000 variables) as independent variables. Two machine learning (ML) models were used- L-1, and L-2 regularized logistic regression models. The results from these models were qualitatively coded by researchers to identify broad themes associated with help-seeking behavior. This process of implementing ML models followed by qualitative coding was repeated until pre-specified criteria were met. Identified themes associated with help-seeking behavior included experience of injury from violence, husband's controlling behavior, husband's consumption of alcohol, and being currently separated from husband. Themes related to women's access to social and economic resources, such as women's employment, and receipt of maternal and reproductive health services were also noted to be related factors. We observed similarity in correlates for seeking help from anyone, vs from formal sources, with a greater focus on women being separated for help-seeking from formal sources. Findings highlight the need for community programs to reach out to women trapped in abusive relationships, as well as the importance of women's social and economic connectedness; future work should consider holistic interventions that integrate IPV screening and support services with women's health related services.

Highlights

Despite the significant global attention received by intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention efforts in the past two decades, IPV continues to be a pervasive social problem, across geographies [1,2,3]
Help seeking for intimate partner violence dataset can be accessed from the Demographic Health Survey(DHS) website: https://dhsprogram. com/data/dataset/India_Standard-DHS_2015.cfm? flag=0
With regards to correlates of IPV help-seeking from formal institutions, we found that very few women sought help from police, lawyers, doctors or social service organizations in India

Summary

Introduction

Despite the significant global attention received by intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention efforts in the past two decades, IPV continues to be a pervasive social problem, across geographies [1,2,3]. Most recent evidence from India, prior to pandemic, demonstrates that one in every three married women has experienced physical, and/or sexual spousal violence at least once in their lifetime [5] These figures are likely underestimations, given the stigma around gender-based violence victimization [6]. These findings indicate that at least 86 million women in India have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of their husband [7]. Despite the low prevalence of help-seeking behavior among victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in India, quantitative evidence on risk factors, is limited. We use a previously validated exploratory approach, to examine correlates of help-seeking from anyone (e.g. family, friends, police, doctor etc.), as well as help-seeking from any formal sources

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion