WOMEN UNDER DURESS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN DISTRICT DEHRADUN

Abstract

Introduction: Violence against women is a significant public health problem, as well as a fundamental violation of women’s human rights. It is one of the most common forms of violence globally and includes physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence.

Aims and Objectives: 1.To study the prevalence of Violence against Women (VAW) amongst ever-married women of reproductive age group in district Dehradun.2. To study their awareness regarding protection from such violence.

Methodology: The community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using multistage random sampling method, amongst 880 ever married women aged 15-49 years, in the rural & urban areas of district Dehradun.

Results: Out of the surveyed sample of 880 women, receiving obscene phone calls was reported by 11.8 %; eve teasing by 9.4 %; being followed home by 5.7% and unsolicited advances by 3.9%. About 1.0% women reported being forced into unsolicited sexual activity by a person other than a spouse. Overall only 19.2% women had any knowledge about protection laws and agencies for victims of VAW.

Conclusion: Nearly 37% women in our study reported suffering from any harassing activity ever in life, it was disheartening to see that only one-fifth had knowledge regarding protection laws. Primary prevention in this scenario becomes very important to disjoin VAW from cultural acceptance.