Peer-reviewed article

Association Between Child Abuse and Domestic Violence in married women attending Primary Health Centers in rural South India.

Krishnamachari Srinivasan, Elsa Heylen, Veena A Satyanarayana, Maria L Ekstrand · 28 Aug 2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Child abuse and domestic violence are widespread and major public health problems in India. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between childhood abuse and neglect and current domestic violence among married women in rural south India. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Married women (n=150) attending primary health centers in rural Karnataka, India. METHODS: Cross- sectional survey using self-report instruments. RESULTS: Most of the participants reported current domestic violence (n=92, 61.3%) with emotional abuse being the most common (n=89, 59.3%) followed by physical abuse (n=39, 26%). Most of the participants reported childhood abuse and neglect (n=141, 94.0%). Logistic regression analysis showed that women witnessing another household member being physically abused during childhood had higher odds of experiencing current physical abuse compared to women who did not report witnessing this (OR= 2.87, 95% CI: 1.09, 7.59). Logistic regression showed that witnessing physical (OR=3.96, CI:1.78,8.78) or emotional abuse (OR=2.80, CI:1.21,6.47) during childhood and experiencing current victimization (OR=5.39, CI:1.95,14.85) were associated with greater risk for depressive symptoms. Similar results were found for participants currently reporting at least mild anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood abuse was significantly associated with adult domestic violence. Both were associated with greater risk for depression and anxiety. The association between witnessing childhood abuse and increased risk for adult vulnerabilities need to be confirmed in future longitudinal studies. Early interventions directed at reducing domestic violence may impact not only the adult victims but could also reduce the likelihood of daughters to be abused as adults.