Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a world phenomenon. It is a fact of life in all societies and across all cultures, irrespective of economic status and training.

In a developed country like America also Women are six times more likely to get violated by intimate partners than men. Surveys taken from time to time have revealed 305 women get violated in Barbados, 29% in Canada, 34% in Egypt, 35% in New Zealand, 21% in Switzerland and 22% in United States. Surveys done in specific areas have also revealed figures as high as 50 and 70%., while Paraguay and Philippines report figures as low as 10%. However reports generated by such surveys are highly controversial as they are directly related with the way queries are worded in survey forms, the way they are conducted and other such factors. It has been found that in America twenty percent of all crimes which happen with women are cases of intimate partner violence, while only three percent of men get affected by the same.

Domestic violence during pregnancy can be very non- specific and thus not easily diagnosed by medical practitioners. But it is relatively common in all societies. The phenomenon has been rated as 2.5 to 3.4% in UK, 2 to 33.75 in USA and 12.5% in Ireland. Teenagers are found to be more vulnerable to violence during pregnancy the world over. The severity of the violence is seen to increase postpartum -1 0% antenatal vs. 19% postnatal and 21% at three months post partum.

Violence at this age manifests in various ways like late booking in hospitals, delay in providing medical aid for injuries, non-attendance at appointments, aggressive partners, vaginal tears, bleeding, STDs, miscarriages, pain and tenderness. Domestic violence can also damage the fetus and lead to psychological damage, premature births and ruptures and have far reaching effects like life time ill health etc. It can also damage the minds of existing children. Illegal pregnancies and adoption issues are also a facet of abuse and violence.

In India there is a crime against women in every three minutes, one rape every twenty nine minutes and one recorded case of dowry death in every seventy seven minutes. Cases of cruelty meted out by husbands and in laws are seen in every nine minutes. Patriarchal terrorism where one partner uses economic and social power to maintain control over another human is very common in India and other Asian countries due to the subservient status of women.

The world statistics of domestic violence translates into 960,000 reported incidences of violence, against current or former partners every year. Three million women are abused every year by their husbands or boy friends. Around one out of three women in the world has been coerced into sex, beaten or otherwise abused by their boy friends. Women are seen to be more vulnerable to intimate partner violence then men world over.

In 2001 there were 85% recorded cases of violence against women and only 15% recorded cases of violence against men. Women of all races are found to be equally vulnerable to intimate partner violence all over the globe. On an average at least three women are found killed or murdered by their partners every year in all countries. Instances of physical abuse are also found more in women compared to men.