Abstract
BackgroundSpousal violence against women is prevalent in India (29%). Studies from various countries have shown that few women exposed to intimate partner violence or spousal violence seek help, especially in low-income countries. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and predictors of help-seeking among women in India who have experienced various types of spousal violence.MethodsCross-sectional data on 19,125 married, separated, divorced or widowed women in India who had experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of their husbands were obtained from the India National Family Health Survey III 2005–2006. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out.ResultsLess than one fourth (23.7%) of married, separated, divorced or widowed women in India who had experienced some form of physical or sexual spousal violence had sought help, but only 1% had sought help from formal institutions. Help-seeking was most prevalent in women who had been exposed to a combination of physical, sexual and emotional abuse (48.8%) and the least prevalent in women who had experienced sexual violence only (1.5%). Experience of severe violence and violence resulting in injury were the strongest predictors of help-seeking. Having education, being Christian or an acknowledged adherent of another minority religion - mainly Buddhism and Sikhism (Islam not included), getting married after the age of 21 and living in the South region were also associated with seeking help. Women in the North and Northeast regions were less likely to seek help, as were women with children and women who thought that a husband could be justified in hitting his wife.ConclusionsVery few Indian women who experience spousal violence seek help. The characteristics of the violence are the strongest predictors of help-seeking, but sociodemographic factors are also influential. We recommend efforts to ensure educational attainment for girls, prevention of child marriages, and that police officers and health care staff should be educated about intimate partner violence and in how to respond to women who seek help. It is important to tackle norms and attitudes surrounding violence against women, as well as attitudes to women who disclose violence.
Highlights
Spousal violence against women is prevalent in India (29%)
Prevalence of help-seeking Almost a quarter (23.7%) of the 19,125 women who had experienced some kind of violence at the hands of their husband had sought some kind of help and 1.0% had sought help from formal institutions (Table 1). 17.0% of the women who had experienced physical violence only (n = 10,080) had sought help and 0.4% had sought help from formal institutions
The results of this study indicate that the vast majority of women in India who are exposed to spousal violence do not seek help to stop it
Summary
Studies from various countries have shown that few women exposed to intimate partner violence or spousal violence seek help, especially in lowincome countries. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and predictors of help-seeking among women in India who have experienced various types of spousal violence. A recent study from Bangladesh showed that women who sought help from legal institutions experienced less violence from their husband [9]. The World Health Organization (WHO)‘s multi-country study of IPV reported that 55–95% of women who had experienced physical or sexual IPV have never sought help from formal institutions [2]; the prevalence of help-seeking and disclosure varies widely between countries. Studies show a clear pattern; women in low income countries and in countries with large gender inequalities and rigid gender roles seek less help than women in countries with higher levels of gender equality where gender roles are less strict
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