Abusive yet affectionate husbands: Conflicting perceptions of domestic violence experiences of wives living in urban slum communities of Mumbai, India

Authors

  • Ajeesh Sebastian Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Shahina Begum Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Balaiah Donta Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • D. D. Naik Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Prashant Tapase Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20174415

Keywords:

Abusive vs. affection, Conflict of emotions, Coping strategies, Domestic violence, Emotional attachment

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) contributed to reproductive health problems worldwide. Data on coping mechanism of women within domestic violence (DV) were unexplored.

Methods: The objective of the paper was to explore the perceived cause of DV and coping mechanism of women who reported affectionate nature of husband. A community-based intervention study was carried out in urban slums to screen women with an unmet need for family planning. Women reported of DV in the past one year preceding the survey were counselled on marital communication and family planning methods. During these sessions, women shared their views on the cause of DV and their coping mechanism.

Results: The narratives of the sessions threw light into the cause of DV, which includes decision-making, the influence of significant others and fewer time couples spent with each other. Affectionate nature and violence by husbands created a conflict of emotions. Fear of loss of the relationship and socio-cultural attitude made them remain in the relationship.

Conclusions: The wives develop an emotional attachment with their partners and do not want to leave the relationship. They create a space within the abusive relationship; enjoy limited functionings, a bonus of affections and demoting violence from the partner without taking a chance to lose the relationship.

Author Biographies

Ajeesh Sebastian, Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

TECHNICIAN - A (SOCIAL WORKER), DEPT. OF BIOSTATISTICS

Shahina Begum, Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

SCIENTIST D & HEAD, DEPT. OF BIOSTATISTICS 

Balaiah Donta, Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

CONSULTANT, DEPT. OF BIOSTATISTICS

D. D. Naik, Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

TECHNICAL OFFICER - A, DEPT. OF BIOSTATISTICS

Prashant Tapase, Department of Biostatistics, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

TECHNICAL OFFICER - A, DEPT. OF BIOSTATISTICS

References

National Crime Records Bureau. Crime in India: Additional Tables. Available at http://ncrb.nic.in/StatPublications/CII/CII2015/CII_Additional_Tables_2015/ADDITIONAL_TABLES.htm. Accessed on 15/05/2017.

International Institute for Population Sciences. National Family Health Survey 2015-16: state fact sheet - Maharashtra. Available at http://rchiips.org/NFHS/pdf/NFHS4/Maharashtra.pd. Accessed on 15/06/2017.

Bushra S, Campbell JC. Intimate partner violence against women in slums in India. Indian J Med Res. 2015;141(6):757-60.

Kamimura A, Ganta V, Myers K, Thomas T. Intimate partner violence and physical and mental health among women utilizing community health services in Gujarat, India. BMC Women’s Health. 2014;14:127-38.

Das S, Bapat U, Shah More N, Alcock G, Joshi W, Pantvaidya S et al. Intimate partner violence against women during and after pregnancy: A cross-sectional study in Mumbai slums. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:817.

Begum S, Donta B, Nair S, Prakasam CP. Socio-demographic factors associated with Domestic Violence in urban slums, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Indian J Med Res. 2015;141:783-8.

Warshaw C, Brashler P, Gil J. Mental Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence. In: Mitchell C, Anglin D, eds. Intimate Partner Violence: A Health-Based Prespective. New York: Oxford University Press; 2009:147-71.

Kamimura A, Christensen N, Tabler J, Ashby J, Olson LM. Prevalence of intimate partner violence and its impact on health: Female and male patients using a free clinic. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2014;25(2):731-45.

Chandra PS, Satyanarayana VA, Carey MP. Women reporting intimate partner violence in India: Associations with PTSD and depressive symptoms. Arch Wom Ment Health. 2009;12(4):203-9.

Weiss HA, Patel V, West B, Peeling RW, Kirkwood BR, Mabey D. Spousal sexual violence and poverty are risk factors for sexually transmitted infections in women: A longitudinal study of women in Goa, India. Sex Transm Infect. 2008;84(2):133-9.

Daruwalla N, Fernandez A, Salam J, Shaikh N, Osrin D. Conflict, Crisis, and Abuse in Dharavi, Mumbai: Experiences from Six Years at a Centre for Vulnerable Women and Children. PLoS Medicine. 2009;6(7):e1000088.

Khot A, Menon S, Dilip T. Domestic violence: Levels, correlates, causes, impact, and response. A community based study of married women from Mumbai slums. Mumbai: Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes; 2004.

Mahapatro M, Gupta R, Gupta V. The risk factor of Domestic Violence in India. Indian J Community Med. 2012;37(3):153-7.

Dalal K, Lindqvist K. A national study of the prevalence and correlates of Domestic Violence among women in India. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2012;24(2):265-77.

Hayati EN, Eriksson M, Hakimi M, Högberg U, Emmelin M. Elastic band strategy: Women’s lived experiences of coping with Domestic Violence in rural Indonesia. Global Health Action. 2013;6:10.3402/gha.v6i0.18894.

Hayati EN, Högberg U, Hakimi M, Ellsberg MC, Emmelin M. Behind the silence of harmony: Risk factors for physical and sexual violence among women in rural Indonesia. BMC Womens Health. 2011;11:52.

Childress S. A meta-summary of qualitative findings on the lived experience among culturally diverse Domestic Violence survivors. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2013;34(9):693-705.

Rusbult CE, Martz JM. Remaining in an Abusive Relationship: An Investment Model Analysis of Nonvoluntary Dependence. Personality Soc Psychol Bull. 1995;21(6):558-571.

Barnett OW. Why Battered Women Do Not Leave, Part 1. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2000;1(4):343-72.

Barnett OW. Why Battered Women Do Not Leave, Part 2. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2001;2(1):3-35.

Colucci E, Hassan G. Prevention of Domestic Violence against women and children in low-income and middle-income countries. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2014;27(5):350-7.

Donta B, Nair S, Begum S, Prakasam CP. Association of Domestic Violence From Husband and Women Empowerment in Slum Community, Mumbai. J Interpers Violence. 2016;31(12):2227-39.

Babu BV, Kar SK. Domestic Violence against women in eastern India: A population-based study on prevalence and related issues. BMC Public Health. 2009;9:129.

Borah PK, Kundu AS, Mahanta J. Dimension and Socio-demographic Correlates of Domestic Violence: A study from Northeast India. Community Ment Health J. 2017;53(4):496-9.

George J, Nair D, Premkumar NR, Saravanan N, Chinnakali P, Roy G. The prevalence of Domestic Violence and its associated factors among married women in a rural area of Puducherry, South India. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2016;5(3):672-6.

Sinha A, Mallik S, Sanyal D, Dasgupta S, Pal D, Mukherjee A. Domestic violence among ever married women of reproductive age group in a slum area of Kolkata. Indian J Public Health. 2012;56(1):31-6.

Chibber KS, Krupp K, Padian N, Madhivanan P. Examining the determinants of sexual violence among young, married women in Southern India. J Interpersonal Violence. 2012;27(12):2465-83.

Dutton DG, Painter S. Emotional attachments in abusive relationships: A test of traumatic bonding theory. Violence Victims. 1993;8(2):105-20.

Sharma KK, Vatsa M. Coping strategies adopted by nurses experiencing domestic violence by their marital partners. Nurs J India. 2014;105(1):11-4.

Jejeebhoy SJ. Associations between wife-beating and fetal and infant death: Impressions from a survey in rural India. Stud Fam Plann. 1998;29: 300-8.

Narayana G. Family violence, sex and reproductive health behavior among men in uttar pradesh, india. Presentation to the National Council for International Health Conference. Crystal City, Virginia. June,1996.

Kaur R, Garg S. Addressing domestic violence against women: an unfinished agenda. Indian J Community Medic: Official Public Indian Association of Preven Soc Medic. 2008;33(2):73-6.

Williams SL, Frieze IH. Patterns of violent relationships, psychosocial distress, and marital satisfaction in a national sample of men and women. Sex Roles. 2005;52:771-84.

Kabeer N. Reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment. In: SIDA, ed. Discussing women’s empowerment–theory and practice. Stockholm: SIDA studies no. 3; 2001a:17-54.

Malhotra A, Schuler SR. Women’s empowerment as a variable in international development. In: Narayan D, ed. measuring empowerment: cross-disciplinary perspectives. Washington, DC: The World Bank;2005:71-88.

Fraser H. Women, love, and intimacy ‘gone wrong’: Fire, wind and ice. Affilia. 2005;20:10-20.

Jejeebhoy SJ. Wife-beating in rural India: A husband's right? evidence from survey data. Econo Political Weekly. 1998;33(15):855-62.

Downloads

Published

2017-09-23

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles