title: The prevalence of domestic violence and its associated factors among married women in a rural area of Puducherry, South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Violence against women is an emerging problem worldwide and more so in India. Considering its adverse effects on women's health, assessing the burden of violence in the community will help in planning services for the victims.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of domestic violence and to identify factors associated with domestic violence among married women in reproductive age group in rural Puducherry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in a rural area of Puducherry, South India. Married women in reproductive age group were interviewed using structured pretested questionnaire. Domestic violence was assessed using 12 questions that were used in National Family Health Survey-3. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with violence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 310 study participants, 56.7% of them reported some form of domestic violence, 51.3% reported psychological violence, 40% reported physical violence, and 13.5% reported sexual violence. A statistically significant association was found between illiteracy of women and domestic violence (AOR: 4.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-15.7 P: 0.03). The other factors such as love marriage and nonregistration of marriage were significantly associated with violence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of domestic violence was found to be high in this rural setting. Multisectoral response such as improving literacy, creating awareness regarding legal aid and screening the victims of violence at primary health centers, should be initiated to mitigate this public health issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Jismary
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Premkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Nirmala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saravanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Palanivel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chinnakali
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roy
keywords: Domestic violence; physical violence; psychological violence; sexual violence