Citation

Jejeebhoy SJ. Stud. Fam. Plann. 1998; 29(3): 300-308.

Affiliation

Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Population Council)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9789323

Abstract

Data from a 1993-94 survey of 1842 women 15-39 years old to compare women's autonomy in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were analyzed to provide an exploratory, preliminary look at the effect of domestic violence on pregnancy outcomes. The sample included 894 women who had 1 or more pregnancies and were married 10 or fewer years. A socioeconomic profile reveals regional differences in women's decision-making authority and mobility but fewer differences in their ability to make purchases for themselves. Domestic violence affected 40-46% of the sample in Uttar Pradesh and 33-35% in Tamil Nadu and was widely accepted by women and by husbands. At least 27% of the sample reported pregnancy loss (including induced abortion), and 13% of the women who had a live birth experienced an infant death (16% from Uttar Pradesh and 10% from Tamil Nadu). Victims of domestic abuse were significantly more likely to experience fetal wastage or infant death regardless of religion or region of residence. This association survives logistic regression for other factors, such as education, age, number of children ever born, having worked for cash in the past year, number of consumer goods owned, religion, and autonomy. Strategies to combat domestic violence must deal with the root cause, which is women's powerlessness, as well as women's immediate needs. Community education programs must stress women's rights, the likely consequences of domestic violence, and the need to reverse social norms about male supremacy. Additional research is also needed on the sequelae of domestic violence and the attitudes of violent men.

Language: en