DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST MARRIED WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE- A CROSS SECTIONAL HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Background; Domestic violence which shows an increasing trend worldwide has got serious impact on woman’s physical & mental health and well being social productivity. Objectives; to assess the prevalence of domestic violence amongst the Indian married women of reproductive age group residing at West Bengal. To evaluate the spectrum of this social illness. Methods; This cross sectional study has been done in the Gynaecology outpatient department of KPC Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata for a period of one year( May 2013 to April 2014). Cases were randomly selected from married women of reproductive age who presented with any medical problem; agree to be assessed by a preorganised questionnaire. Results; Domestic violence was prevalent among 55.63% of cases in their whole married life and experienced by 40.07% of subjects in their preceding one year life. Lower socio-economic condition, poor educational status of both the women and their partners, early age at marriage, having more children, preponderance of female child, addicted husband are at increased risk. Economically independent women are least affected. Conclusion; To reduce this highly prevalent menace of domestic violence, quality of life of women in relation with economic independence, education, increasing age at marriage are to be addressed with utmost importance..