From Access to Autonomy: Trends in Women's Empowerment and Gender-based Violence Indicators in Karnataka and India: A Descriptive Ecological Analysis of NFHS-4, NFHS-5 and NFHS-6 Data

Background: This study assessed trends in women empowerment indicators and gender-based violence (GBV) in Karnataka and India across NFHS-4, NFHS-5, and NFHS-6. Methods: A descriptive ecological trend analysis was conducted using published aggregate data from NFHS-4 (2015-16), NFHS-5 (2019-21), and NFHS-6 (2023-24). Indicators of empowerment and GBV were extracted for Karnataka and India and analysed using percentages, absolute percentage-point changes, and relative percentage changes. Results: Women's empowerment indicators improved across survey rounds. In Karnataka, bank account ownership increased from 59.4% to 94.7%, while child marriage declined from 21.4% to 15.3%. Karnataka generally performed better than the national average on several empowerment indicators. Spousal violence showed a non-linear trend, increasing between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 before declining in NFHS-6. Conclusion: Descriptive trends indicate marked improvements in women's empowerment indicators in Karnataka and India. However, persistent child marriage and GBV remain important challenges to achieving SDG-5.