Mental health effects of domestic violence against women in Delhi: A community-based study.

Sharma, Kamlesh Kumari; Vatsa, Manju; Kalaivani, Mani; Bhardwaj, Dayanand · J Family Med Prim Care · 2019

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

Domestic violence (DV) against women is an all-pervasive phenomenon considered to have serious health consequences for women. This study aimed to assess the association of DV against women with their mental health status. This community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out among 827 ever married women from Delhi selected through cluster sampling followed by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using structured and in-depth questionnaires. Mental health status was estimated using self-reporting questionnaire 20. The prevalence of psychological, physical, sexual, physical, or sexual violence and any form of violence was very high. A quarter of the women (25.3%) reported unhealthy mental status (>8 score) in the past 4 weeks. Women who had experienced DV showed poor mental health status and more suicidal tendencies when compared with women who had not experienced violence. DV has significant effect on women's mental health underscoring the need to develop public health interventions.