Domestic Violence and Women’s Health in India: Evidence from Health Survey

This paper examines the effect of domestic violence on the health of ever-married women of
reproductive age group in India. Micro-level National Family Health Survey (NFHS-III) data
for the year 2005-06 has been used in the study. We employ disease, body mass index, under
nutrition level and anemia as the measures of health and physical, emotional and sexual
forms of domestic violence are used as indicators of domestic violence at both national and
state levels. We find that domestic violence has negative impact on the overall women’s
health and nutritional status. However, national level results are not consistent with that of the
states level. Based on the findings, we argue that the issue of domestic violence should be
addressed in national and state level health policies and programmes.