Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India

Abstract Background Globally, one in three women experienced domestic violence. Alike the scenario observed in India, and a very few studies talk about violence and its consequences on women's health. Hence, the purpose of this study is to access the level of various types of spousal violence i...

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Main Authors: Mahadev Bramhankar, R. S. Reshmi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-11-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01515-x
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author Mahadev Bramhankar
R. S. Reshmi
author_facet Mahadev Bramhankar
R. S. Reshmi
author_sort Mahadev Bramhankar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Globally, one in three women experienced domestic violence. Alike the scenario observed in India, and a very few studies talk about violence and its consequences on women's health. Hence, the purpose of this study is to access the level of various types of spousal violence in India and to understand the association between physical, sexual and emotional violence against ever-married women by their husbands. The study further examines the consequences of spousal violence on women's health in terms of adverse pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health in India. Methods The study uses secondary data from National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4, 2015–16). The analysis was based on a sample of ever-married women aged 15–49 years. Bivariate descriptive analysis and multiple regression analyses have been carried out to understand the association between spousal violence and its consequences on women's health. Results The study finds that the physical, sexual and emotional violence experienced by ever-married women in India are 29.8%, 13.8% and 7.0%, respectively. Further, the physical and sexual violence experienced by women have a significant association with an unwanted pregnancy, abortion, miscarriages and ever had termination of pregnancies. The regression analysis shows that violence by sexual partners among battered women increased the likelihood of unwanted pregnancy. Similarly, abortion and ever had a termination of pregnancies are also adversely affected by partner violence. Further, the risk of sexually transmitted infection increases 77% by sexual violence and 44% by emotional violence among battered women. Also, Sexual violence substantially increases the risk of prolonged labour during pregnancy. Conclusion This study revealed that one in three women experiencing violence by their husband and also it is evident that various forms of spousal violence adversely affect pregnancies outcomes and reproductive health among battered women compared to not battered.
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spelling doaj.art-6675df79a8694228bfee715740a9503c2022-12-21T19:29:45ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742021-11-012111910.1186/s12905-021-01515-xSpousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in IndiaMahadev Bramhankar0R. S. Reshmi1Department of Migration and Urban Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)Department of Migration and Urban Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)Abstract Background Globally, one in three women experienced domestic violence. Alike the scenario observed in India, and a very few studies talk about violence and its consequences on women's health. Hence, the purpose of this study is to access the level of various types of spousal violence in India and to understand the association between physical, sexual and emotional violence against ever-married women by their husbands. The study further examines the consequences of spousal violence on women's health in terms of adverse pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health in India. Methods The study uses secondary data from National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4, 2015–16). The analysis was based on a sample of ever-married women aged 15–49 years. Bivariate descriptive analysis and multiple regression analyses have been carried out to understand the association between spousal violence and its consequences on women's health. Results The study finds that the physical, sexual and emotional violence experienced by ever-married women in India are 29.8%, 13.8% and 7.0%, respectively. Further, the physical and sexual violence experienced by women have a significant association with an unwanted pregnancy, abortion, miscarriages and ever had termination of pregnancies. The regression analysis shows that violence by sexual partners among battered women increased the likelihood of unwanted pregnancy. Similarly, abortion and ever had a termination of pregnancies are also adversely affected by partner violence. Further, the risk of sexually transmitted infection increases 77% by sexual violence and 44% by emotional violence among battered women. Also, Sexual violence substantially increases the risk of prolonged labour during pregnancy. Conclusion This study revealed that one in three women experiencing violence by their husband and also it is evident that various forms of spousal violence adversely affect pregnancies outcomes and reproductive health among battered women compared to not battered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01515-xAdverse pregnancy outcomeReproductive healthSpousal violenceSexual violencePhysical violence
spellingShingle Mahadev Bramhankar
R. S. Reshmi
Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India
BMC Women's Health
Adverse pregnancy outcome
Reproductive health
Spousal violence
Sexual violence
Physical violence
title Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India
title_full Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India
title_fullStr Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India
title_full_unstemmed Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India
title_short Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India
title_sort spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in india
topic Adverse pregnancy outcome
Reproductive health
Spousal violence
Sexual violence
Physical violence
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01515-x
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