This document summarizes a study on domestic violence against women in a rural area of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India. The study found that 41.25% of women reported experiencing some type of domestic violence. Women aged 20-40, illiterate women, housewives, and those from Hindu or nuclear families reported higher rates of violence. The most common forms of violence were physical/emotional (30.3%) and physical only (24.24%). The primary causes of violence cited were arguments over money and alcohol influence. The study recommends education programs for women and community efforts to address alcohol abuse to help prevent domestic violence.

2. A Cross-sectional study in rural area of Jodhpur district of
Rajasthan, India

3.  Domestic violence against women is a matter of serious public health concern in
most of the communities and culture.
 We come across news related to torture and brutality against various members of
the family. Mostly these members comprise women in the age group of 15-40
years.
 Domestic violence is a global issue reaching across national boundaries as well as
socio economic, cultural, racial and class distinctions.
 Women from all kinds of backgrounds are affected by Violence every day.
 Most often they are hurt by people who are close to them.
 National family health survey-III indicated that, nationwide, 37.2% of women
experienced violence after marriage

4.  It has always been in our society from ancient times.
 Such violence is prevalent against women because the orthodox section of the
society feels that women are not as strong as men and are not able to compete in
this world.
 Even after proving their mettle in all fields in contemporary times, they still have
to face domestic violence.

5.  WHO reported few factors that are associated with increased risk of experiencing
intimate partner violence, which include
1. Low educational qualification,
2. Exposure to violence between parents,
3. Abuse during childhood,
4. Attitudes to accept violence and
5. Gender inequality.

6.  Domestic violence is not considered seriously unless it involves homicide or
serious physical injury to the victim. But from medical point of view long standing
domestic violence results in more psychological disorders as compared with
physical health problems.

7. Myth that domestic violence was prevalent in rural
areas or small towns

8.  The most common reasons for such brutality is
1. Baseless suspicion on one’s spouse,
2. Not bringing the desired amount of dowry as expected by the groom’s family,
3. Refusing sex and even for petty reasons like
4. Food not being served on time or
5. Women not being able to give ample time to her family and in-laws due to work
pressure.

9.  Any act, conduct, omission and commission that harms or injures or has a
potential to harm or injure will be considered as domestic violence by the law.
 Domestic violence now can be defined as any physical, mental, sexual or
psychological abuse or just an attempt of it which creates fear in the minds of
women.

10.  The study was conducted to estimate the actual prevalence, vulnerability factors
and immediate reaction of study participants to domestic violence. Majority of the
studies conducted on domestic violence are done in urban setting and less data is
available from rural area.

11.  Main objectives of the study were
1. To assess the prevalence of domestic violence against women,
2. To study the sociodemographic factors and
3. To identify causes of domestic violence.

12.  Every third women, since the age of 15, has faced domestic violence of various
forms in the country, reported the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4)
released by the Union health ministry.
 27 per cent of women have experienced physical violence since the age 15 in India.
 Domestic violence cases, where women reported physical abuse in rural and urban
areas, were at 29 per cent and 23 percent, respectively.

13.  Most of the times perpetrators of this violence have been the husbands.
 31 per cent of married women have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional
violence by their spouses.
 83 per cent reported their present husbands as perpetrators of the violence.
 However, for women who are not married, the experience of physical violence
stems from the most common perpetrators, which includes
1. Mothers or step-mothers (56%),
2. Fathers or step-fathers (33%),
3. Sisters or brothers (27%), and
4. Teachers (15%).

14.  Women in India between the ages of 40 to 49 were most supportive of domestic
violence, with 54.8% in agreement. While
 54.4% of rural women surveyed across the country agreed with domestic abuse,
only
 46.8% of urban women supported such violence.

15.  Six per cent of women in India and reported to having experienced sexual violence
in their lifetime.
 Among married women who were victims of sexual violence, over 83% reported
their present husband and 9% report a former husband as the perpetrators.
 Most common perpetrators of sexual violence on unmarried women were
1. Other relatives (27%), followed by a
2. Current or former boyfriend (18%)
 Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) considers forced sex in marriage as a
crime only when the wife is below age 15.

16.  Most serious consequences of gender violence in Mexico are staggering: Over 400
women and girls have been killed in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua in the last 14
years.
 One in three Mexican women suffer from domestic violence.
 In China, according to a national survey, one-third of the country’s 270 million
households cope with domestic violence
 In Russia, more than 14,000 women are killed every year in acts of domestic
violence.
 In Zimbabwe, domestic violence accounts for more than six in 10 murder cases in
court.
 In Kenya and Uganda, 42 percent and 41 percent respectively of women surveyed
reported having been beaten by their partners.

17.  Order Of Maintenance Awarded Under Domestic Violence Act Cannot Be
Substituted By Maintenance Under S.125 of CrPC
 S. Khushboo Vs. Kanniammal & Anr.

18.  A population based cross sectional study was carried out at Daijar in Jodhpur
district of Rajasthan state
 The total population covered under Survey is 3,329 and distance from Jodhpur is
around 18 Km.
 Considering the prevalence of domestic violence as 37.2%, our sample size
constituted of 80 people Out of total population covered under that rural program
 List of all married females of the village was made and simple random sampling
method was used for the selection of study participants.

19.  A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire.
 Face to-face interviews were conducted in local language with women in their
homes.
 Interviews were conducted in a private place in or outside the respondents' home.
 Care has been taken to avoid presence of other family/community members during
interview.

20.  41.25% reported some type of violence

22.  Females in the age group of 20-40 years 39.58% experienced domestic violence
whereas
 43.75% of the females above 40 years of age experienced domestic violence.
 More in the illiterate females (61.53%) as compared to females studied up to
primary or secondary level (37.70%) and graduate or post graduate females
(33.34%).
 More common among labourers (45%) followed by housewives (42.85%).
 More commonly reported amongst Hindu females (40.57%) and females residing in
nuclear families (45.45%).

24.  Physical and emotional violence (30.30%) was most commonly seen amongst
victims followed by only
 Physical violence (24.24%) and only
 Emotional violence (21.21%)

26.  Most common form of physical violence was slapping or throwing something at
females (69.69%).

28.  Commonest emotional violence was being insulted or made to feel bad about
herself was experienced by 71.18% of females

30.  commonest form of sexual violence was physically forced to have sexual
intercourse against her will

32.  The most common cause of domestic violence was found to be argument over
money (42.85%) and
 Influence under alcohol (33.54%)

33.  There is need to inform, educate & communicate to the society about domestic
violence and the existing laws to protect women against domestic violence.
 Emphasis should be given on female education so as to make them self-reliant
 Role of social activists, formal and non-formal community leaders is important in
prevention of alcohol addiction
 Combined efforts in this respect through community participation along with
social welfare will be a better sustainable solution to these problems.

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