Citation

Sabri B, Renner LM, Stockman JK, Mittal M, Decker MR. Women Health 2014; 54(4): 281-300.

Affiliation

a School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/03630242.2014.896445

PMID

24617959

Abstract

Relying on an ecological framework, we examined risk factors for severe physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and related injuries among a nationally representative sample of women (N=67,226) in India. Data for this cross-sectional study were derived from the 2005-2006 India National Family Health Survey, a nationally representative household-based health surveillance system. Logistic regression analyses were used to generate the study findings. We found that factors related to severe physical IPV and injuries included low or no education, low socio-economic status, rural residence, greater number of children and separated or divorced marital status. Husband's problem drinking, jealousy, suspicion, control, and emotionally and sexually abusive behaviors were also related to an increased likelihood of women experiencing severe IPV and injuries. Other factors included women's exposure to domestic violence in childhood, women's perpetration of IPV and their adherence to social norms that accept husbands' violence. Practitioners may use these findings to identify women at high risk of being victimized by severe IPV or injuries for prevention and intervention strategies. Policies and programs that focus on empowering abused women and holding perpetrators accountable may protect women at risk for severe IPV or injuries that may result in death.

Language: en