Factor Determining the Spousal Violence Against Woman in India: Evidence from Bihar State

Abstract

Violence against women is a burning issue not only in human right perspective but also for human development in all over the world. It not only affects economic development but also increases the various social costs such as result of unwanted pregnancy, HIV/STD diseases, and healthy family environment. Excluding other family members, 30% to 60 % of violence against women occurred by their own partners. Despite the various legal measures against this social evil, data reveals that four women out of ten are still experiencing domestic violence in India. Present study attempts to identify the determinants of spousal violence against women by using the data of National Family Health Survey-III, 2005-06 for Bihar state, where highest domestic violence experience in India. The bivariate analysis shows a significant association between spousal violence and various individual, socio-economic and family environmental factors. Whereas, multivariate analysis results reveal that woman’s education, woman’s age, partner’s alcohol consumption, rural- urban differential, and caste are the major significant predictor of spousal violence against women. Present study suggests policy makers and governments should emphasis and improve quality of determinants of spousal violence to make society a safe place for women.

Keywords: Women, Spousal Violence, India, Socioeconomic status, Logistic Regression.