Frequency of intimate partner violence and rural women's mental health in four Indian states
Stephenson, R.; Winter, A.; Hindin, M.
Violence Against Women 19(9): 1133-1150
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1552-8448 PMID: 24142954 DOI: 10.1177/1077801213501898Document Number: 579472
This study examines the association between self-reported frequency of verbal, physical, and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health among 6,303 rural married women (age 15-49), in four Indian states: Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Data are taken from the 2002-2003 National Family Health Survey-2 Follow-Up Survey. The results indicate that experiencing physical, verbal, or sexual IPV is associated with an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes. Our results provide support for the importance of screening for IPV in mental health settings, especially in resource-poor settings where both IPV and mental health are often overlooked.