In India, Poverty and Lack of Education are Associated with Men's Physical and Sexual Abuse of Their Wives

This article reports the association between domestic violence and poverty and lack of education in India. In a survey conducted in five districts in Uttar Pradesh during 1995-96 a total of 6695 husbands were interviewed. About 30% of husbands (n = 1990) reported physically abusing their wives while the level and type of abuse fluctuated across the districts. Among those who admitted physically abusing their wives 63-91% reported multiple episodes and 47-74% reported abusing their wives within the past year. Several forms of abuse include shouting or yelling (33-94%) slapping or pushing (47-77%) punching or kicking (8-32%) or using weapons or objects (5-10%). Men with less than 5 years of education were more likely to abuse their wives and were living in poor conditions. The significant associations between wife abuse and the reproductive health and behavior variables persisted when the effects of social and demographic factors were controlled. In conclusion family stressors particularly low educational levels and poverty are considered strong risk factors for wife abuse which suggests that broad social changes including advanced accessibility to education and employment opportunities are needed to improve family life and prevent family violence.