Domestic violence and associated factors among ever-married women in Assam based on the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21)

As a reflection of gender inequity, domestic violence continues to be a serious public health and human rights problem. Around one-third of women globally experience physical, sexual or emotional violence, despite regional socioeconomic and cultural disparities. The purpose of this study is to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of the victims and determine the prevalence of domestic violence against women who have been married in Assam, India. Data on 13-items from the NFHS-5 Domestic Violence Module were used to assess domestic violence. This cross sectional study analysed data from 3,394 ever married women who completed the domestic violence module of the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) in Assam. Survey-weighted analysis accounting for clustering, stratification and sampling weights were performed to identify factors associated with domestic violence. Multivariate logistic regression calculated adjusted odds ratios, while chi-square tests evaluated bivariate relationships. STATA software was used for all statistical analyses. This study discovered that among ever been married of Assam, domestic violence is significantly connected with religion, women’s employment, number of children, alcohol and tobacco usage, husbands’ domineering conduct and women’s empowerment. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, concentrating on awareness, education and addressing root causes to decrease violence against women.