Prevalence and Association of Domestic Violence And Its Effect on Mental Status Among Females in an Urban Slum of Chandigarh: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence does not end when the physical harm stops-for countless women, it continues to live on as depression, anxiety, and psychological distress long after the violence has ceased. So, the main objective of this paper was to examine the prevalence of domestic violence and its impact on the mental health among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in an urban slum in Chandigarh, focusing on its effects on their mental health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 279 females aged 15-49 years in Sector-25, Chandigarh, residing in urban slum areas. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a pretested questionnaire, including the Domestic Violence Questionnaire, Self-Harm Inventory, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Ethical consideration was taken from the institute, and informed consent was taken from eligible females. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Fisher's exact test and multivariable logistic regression were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of domestic violence was found to be 30.1% (95% CI: 25.0-35.7%) among females in urban slums, with insulting behavior (94.0%) being the most prevalent. Other factors that were associated, such as type of residence, occupation of the participant, and the history of substance abuse, were significant contributors. Women who experienced domestic violence had significantly higher odds of anxiety symptoms compared to those who did not (odds ratio: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.21-4.57; P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Females still experience violence, leading to poor mental health outcomes including depression, anxiety and stress. Targeted interventions are needed to address mental health issues associated with domestic violence.