Mental health effects of domestic violence against women in Delhi: A community-based study

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence (DV) against women is an all-pervasive phenomenon considered to have serious health consequences for women. This study aimed to assess the association of DV against women with their mental health status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This community-based, cross-sectional study was carried out among 827 ever married women from Delhi selected through cluster sampling followed by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using structured and in-depth questionnaires. Mental health status was estimated using self-reporting questionnaire 20. RESULTS: The prevalence of psychological, physical, sexual, physical, or sexual violence and any form of violence was very high. A quarter of the women (25.3%) reported unhealthy mental status (>8 score) in the past 4 weeks. Women who had experienced DV showed poor mental health status and more suicidal tendencies when compared with women who had not experienced violence. CONCLUSION: DV has significant effect on women's mental health underscoring the need to develop public health interventions.