Individual and contextual determinants of domestic violence in North India.
OBJECTIVE
We examined individual- and community-level influences on domestic violence in Uttar Pradesh, North India.


METHODS
Multilevel modeling was used to explore domestic violence outcomes among a sample of 4520 married men.


RESULTS
Recent physical and sexual domestic violence was associated with the individual-level variables of childlessness, economic pressure, and intergenerational transmission of violence. A community environment of violent crime was associated with elevated risks of both physical and sexual violence. Community-level norms concerning wife beating were significantly related only to physical violence.


CONCLUSIONS
Important similarities as well as differences were evident in risk factors for physical and sexual domestic violence. Higher socioeconomic status was found to be protective against physical but not sexual violence. Our results provide additional support for the importance of contextual factors in shaping women's risks of physical and sexual violence.
Koenig
Michael A
MA
Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, 615 N Wolfe St, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. mkoenig@jhsph.edu
Stephenson
Rob
R
Ahmed
Saifuddin
S
Jejeebhoy
Shireen J
SJ
Campbell
Jacquelyn
J
D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*