Domestic violence and forced sex among the urban poor in South India: implications for HIV prevention

Violence Against Women. 2009 Jul;15(7):753-73. doi: 10.1177/1077801209334602. Epub 2009 May 15.

Abstract

This article examined the prevalence of physical and sexual violence among 1,974 married women from 40 low-income communities in Chennai, India. The authors found a 99% and 75% lifetime prevalence of physical abuse and forced sex, respectively, whereas 65% of women experienced more than five episodes of physical abuse in the 3 months preceding the survey. Factors associated with violence after multivariate adjustment included elementary/middle school education and variables suggesting economic insecurity. These domestic violence rates exceed those in prior Indian reports, suggesting women in slums may be at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Battered Women / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data
  • Poverty Areas*
  • Prevalence
  • Rape / psychology
  • Rape / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Spouses / statistics & numerical data
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*