Violence against Women and Self-Reported Reproductive Morbidity: Relationship Examined

Gurumurthy Rangaiyan, Population Council
Ravi K. Verma, Population Council
Rajib Acharya, ORC Macro and Johns Hopkins University
Madhumita Das, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Objectives: This study assesses the prevalence of physical violence against women, self reported reproductive health problems, and examines the determinants of reproductive health problems in Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods: Association between violence against women and reproductive health problems is examined in a population-based representative sample of 3695 currently married women during 1998-99 from a statewide survey. Logistic regression analysis is used to assess the effects of violence on the probability of reporting a reproductive health problem. Results: At least one in eight women has experienced domestic violence in the past 12 months and a considerable variation in the prevalence of domestic violence among different segments of currently married women exists. Women who are young, illiterate, belong to scheduled-tribe, from households with low standard of living and without a child, and with a reproductive health problem are most vulnerable to violence. In case of reproductive health problem, the prevalence is high among women who are young, illiterate, belong to scheduled tribe, without a child, and have experience of abortion and violence. The logistic regression results show that the likelihood of reporting any reproductive health problem is significantly high with the experience of violence. Conclusion: The overwhelming conclusion of this study drawn from the multivariate analysis is that violence against women is one of the major determinants of women’s reproductive health problem. The findings certainly provide direct or indirect implications for reproductive health interventions, and the development of more comprehensive policy measures. This study suggests an immediate need to understand the contextual aspects of gender violence and the importance of community based information on the health consequences of violence against women.