1
|
Sabri B, Campbell JC, Khan NA, Tahir M, Khan MA, Khan MN. Assessing risk for severe domestic violence and related homicides perpetrated by partners and in-laws: adapted danger assessments for women in abusive relationships in India. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1870. [PMID: 39003451 PMCID: PMC11245836 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19364-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite domestic violence and related homicides perpetrated by partners and/or in-laws being a significant public health problem in India, there are no reliable and valid instruments to identify and intervene with women in domestic violence relationships. Continued domestic violence can escalate to severe, near-lethal, or lethal violence or homicide. The Danger Assessment (DA) is a risk assessment instrument designed to assess the likelihood of severe, near-lethal, or lethal violence in abusive relationships. However, the DA is not designed to determine the risk of future severe, near-lethal, or lethal violence by in-laws. In-law abuse plays a significant role in domestic violence-related homicides in India and other countries with similar cultural norms. This study addressed this gap by developing the Danger Assessment for in-laws (DA-L) to assess risk from in-laws, alongside the Danger Assessment for Women in India (DA-WI) to assess risk from partners. The study also examined the psychometric properties of the DA-L and DA-WI. Longitudinal data from 150 women in India were used to measure the reliability and validity of the two versions of the DA. The original DA items and additional risk items were examined using relative risk ratios for their relationship with severe violence at three-month follow-ups. Predictive validity was tested with the receiver operating characteristic curve. The study resulted in reliable and valid measures (11 items DA-L and 26-items DA-WI) of risk. The versions of the DA can be useful for practitioners in India and those working with Indian women in the US and other countries. The DAs can be used for identifying women in domestic violence relationships who are at risk for future severe domestic violence and guide the provision of tailored safety plans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Sabri
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 North Wolfe Street, Room N530L, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Jacquelyn C Campbell
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 North Wolfe Street, Room N530L, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Naseem Ahmad Khan
- Department of Social Work, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mohammad Tahir
- Department of Social Work, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mohd Arif Khan
- Department of Social Work, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mohd Naseem Khan
- Department of Social Work, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rai A. The Need for Expanding the Conceptualization and Investigation of Domestic Violence among Immigrants from South Asia: Implications for Practice. SOCIAL WORK 2023; 69:95-98. [PMID: 37990932 DOI: 10.1093/sw/swad046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
|
3
|
Maher CA, Hayes BE. Association Between Disabilities, Educational Attainment, Literacy, and Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the Indian National Family Health Surveys. ASIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY 2022; 18:1-20. [PMID: 36337382 PMCID: PMC9628613 DOI: 10.1007/s11417-022-09389-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is widespread across the Global South, including India, due to cultural and patriarchal norms that encourage and facilitate such behaviors. These include age at marriage, community- and individual-level encouragement of IPV, and limited access to education across the Global South, particularly for women. Despite this, little research has sought to disentangle the role that disabilities play in affecting women's risk of IPV in India. The current study analyzes a sample of currently married women (N = 114,901) from the nationally representative 2015-2016 and 2019-2021 National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) to assess whether a relationship exists between these dimensions, while controlling for well-known IPV correlates, with physical IPV and controlling behaviors. Logistic regression analyses revealed that persons with cognitive/intellectual disabilities as well as blind respondents were more likely to experience physical IPV. Blind respondents were also more likely to experience controlling behavior. Further, findings indicate that those with no or some education were more likely to experience physical IPV relative to those with higher education. Findings from the current study demonstrate the need for IPV reduction policies to ensure that adequate accommodations are available to facilitate help-seeking behaviors among persons with disabilities. Tailored prevention policies are also needed which consider both context- and location-specific factors associated with risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cooper A. Maher
- Department of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Brittany E. Hayes
- Department of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sabri B, Rai A, Rameshkumar A. Violence Against Women in India: An Analysis of Correlates of Domestic Violence and Barriers and Facilitators of Access to Resources for Support. JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE-BASED SOCIAL WORK (2019) 2022; 19:700-729. [PMID: 36530195 PMCID: PMC9756932 DOI: 10.1080/26408066.2022.2105671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Domestic violence (DV) is a significant public health problem in India, with women disproportionately impacted. This study a) identified risk and protective correlates of DV and, b) barriers and facilitators for seeking and receiving help for DV among women in India. Methods A systematic search of 5 databases was performed to identify correlates of DV in the quantitative literature. The search resulted in inclusion of 68 studies for synthesis. For qualitative exploration, data were collected from 27 women in India. Results While factors such as social norms and attitudes supportive of DV were both risk correlates and barriers to addressing DV, omen's empowerment, financial independence and informal sources of support were both protective correlates of DV as well as facilitators in addressing DV. Conclusions Strong efforts in India are needed to reduce DV-related risk factors and strengthen protective factors and enhance access to care for women in abusive relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Sabri
- John Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
| | - Abha Rai
- School of Social Work, Loyola University, Chicago, IL
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Newberry JA, Kaur J, Gurrapu S, Behl R, Darmstadt GL, Halpern-Felsher B, Rao GVR, Mahadevan SV, Strehlow MC. "So Why Should I Call Them?": Survivor Support Service Characteristics as Drivers of Help-Seeking in India. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP7850-NP7879. [PMID: 33150827 DOI: 10.1177/0886260520970306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Women in South Asia face the highest lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence in the world, which is just one form of violence against women (VAW). In India, few women seek help after experiencing violence, particularly from formal resources, such as physicians or the police. While many studies have investigated the impact of survivor characteristics and patterns of violence on help-seeking behaviors, there is scant research on support service characteristics and their impact on help-seeking. The introduction of a novel crisis helpline in Gujarat, India provided an opportunity to better understand how successful help-seeking can be driven by the perceived and experienced characteristics of the helpline. We conducted in-depth interviews with helpline users to identify factors and pathways that promoted or discouraged help-seeking in general, help-seeking from a formal source, and help-seeking from this particular helpline. We analyzed 32 interviews of women who used the helpline. Participants were from eight districts across the state, representing a diverse range of sociodemographic backgrounds. After conducting a thematic analysis, we found that action-oriented service, timeliness, and women-focused staff influenced (positively and negatively) participants' feelings of safety, empowerment, and trust in the helpline, which ultimately impacted their decision to seek help from the helpline or even to seek help at all. This study illuminates how service characteristics, in and of themselves, can influence the likelihood that survivors will seek help, emphasizing the need for survivors to have a voice in the growth and refinement of VAW support services. Consequently, these areas must be a focus of future research and initiatives to improve help-seeking by VAW survivors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - G V Ramana Rao
- GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute, Telangana, India
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Daruwalla N, Kanougiya S, Gupta A, Gram L, Osrin D. Prevalence of domestic violence against women in informal settlements in Mumbai, India: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e042444. [PMID: 33328262 PMCID: PMC7745686 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Domestic violence against women harms individuals, families, communities and society. Perpetrated by intimate partners or other family members, its overlapping forms include physical, sexual and emotional violence, control and neglect. We aimed to describe the prevalence of these forms of violence and their perpetrators in informal settlements in Mumbai. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Two large urban informal settlement areas. PARTICIPANTS 5122 women aged 18-49 years. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence and perpetrators in the last year of physical, sexual and emotional domestic violence, coercive control and neglect. For each of these forms of violence, responses to questions about individual acts and composite estimates. RESULTS In the last year, 644 (13%) women had experienced physical domestic violence, 188 (4%) sexual violence and 963 (19%) emotional violence. Of ever-married women, 13% had experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence in the last year. Most physical (87%) and sexual violence (99%) was done by partners, but emotional violence equally involved marital family members. All three forms of violence were more common if women were younger, in the lowest socioeconomic asset quintile or reported disability. 1816 women (35%) had experienced at least one instance of coercive control and 33% said that they were afraid of people in their home. 10% reported domestic neglect of their food, sleep, health or children's health. CONCLUSIONS Domestic violence against women remains common in urban informal settlements. Physical and sexual violence were perpetrated mainly by intimate partners, but emotional violence was attributed equally to partners and marital family. More than one-third of women described controlling behaviours perpetrated by both intimate partners and marital family members. We emphasise the need to include the spectrum of perpetrators and forms of domestic violence-particularly emotional violence and coercive control-in data gathering. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN84502355; Pre-results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nayreen Daruwalla
- Programme on Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children, Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Suman Kanougiya
- Programme on Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children, Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Apoorwa Gupta
- Programme on Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children, Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Lu Gram
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nair N, Daruwalla N, Osrin D, Rath S, Gagrai S, Sahu R, Pradhan H, De M, Ambavkar G, Das N, Dungdung GP, Mohan D, Munda B, Singh V, Tripathy P, Prost A. Community mobilisation to prevent violence against women and girls in eastern India through participatory learning and action with women's groups facilitated by accredited social health activists: a before-and-after pilot study. BMC INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS 2020; 20:6. [PMID: 32213182 PMCID: PMC7093987 DOI: 10.1186/s12914-020-00224-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Almost one in three married Indian women have ever experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence from husbands in their lifetime. We aimed to investigate the preliminary effects of community mobilisation through participatory learning and action groups facilitated by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), coupled with access to counselling, to prevent violence against women and girls in Jharkhand, eastern India. Methods We piloted a cycle of 16 participatory learning and action meetings with women’s groups facilitated by ASHAs in rural Jharkhand. Participants identified common forms of violence against women and girls, prioritised the ones they wanted to address, developed locally feasible strategies to address them, implemented the strategies, and evaluated the process. We also trained two counsellors and two ASHA supervisors to support survivors, and gave ASHAs information about legal, health, and police services. We did a before-and-after pilot study involving baseline and endline surveys with group members to estimate preliminary effects of these activities on the acceptability of violence, prevalence of past year emotional and physical violence, and help-seeking. Results ASHAs successfully conducted monthly participatory learning and action meetings with 39 women’s groups in 22 villages of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, between June 2016 and September 2017. We interviewed 59% (679/1149) of women registered with groups at baseline, and 63% (861/1371) at endline. More women reported that violence was unacceptable in all seven scenarios presented to them at endline compared to baseline (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 1.87, 95%: 1.39–2.52). Fewer women reported experiencing emotional violence from their husbands in the last 12 months (aOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.43–0.71), and more sought help if it occurred (aOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.51–3.17). In addition, fewer women reported experiencing emotional or physical violence from family members other than their husbands in the last 12 months (aOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.32–0.53, and aOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.26–0.50, respectively). Conclusion Combining participatory learning and action meetings facilitated by ASHAs with access to counselling was an acceptable strategy to address violence against women and girls in rural communities of Jharkhand. The approach warrants further implementation and evaluation as part of a comprehensive response to violence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nayreen Daruwalla
- Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Megha De
- Ekjut, Chakradharpur, Jharkhand, India
| | - Gauri Ambavkar
- Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Nibha Das
- Ekjut, Chakradharpur, Jharkhand, India
| | | | - Damini Mohan
- Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | | | | | | | - Audrey Prost
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ragavan MI, Fikre T, Millner U, Bair-Merritt M. The impact of domestic violence exposure on South Asian children in the United States: Perspectives of domestic violence agency staff. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 76:250-260. [PMID: 29161645 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The South Asian community is the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, and past research suggests that South Asian domestic violence (DV) survivors may require culturally-specific resources. Similarly, South Asian children in the US exposed to DV may have unique responses and needs, but this has not been explored to date. The objective of this study was to examine the specific needs of South Asian children exposed to DV from the vantage point of staff from South Asian DV agencies across the United States. Thirty interviews were conducted, with data coded and consolidated into larger themes using thematic analysis. Participants described several factors important to understanding the impact of DV on South Asian children including the role of the extended family, identifying with two cultures, fear about what the South Asian community will think, gender differences, and the importance of projecting an image of perfection. Participants also discussed development of culturally-tailored resources. This study suggests the importance of framing South Asian children's experiences within the context of interweaving South Asian and American cultural values, with careful attention paid to how potential culture clashes between parents and children may impact the way children process trauma. Further work should triangulate these themes with children, parents, and extended family, as well as collaborate with South Asian DV agencies to design child-focused programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maya I Ragavan
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, 88 E. Newton St, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
| | - Tsion Fikre
- Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| | - Uma Millner
- Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 940 Commonwealth Ave. West, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
| | - Megan Bair-Merritt
- Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, 88 E. Newton St, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
| |
Collapse
|