77% Women Remain Silent About Domestic Violence, Reveals NFHS- 5 Data

Trigger warning: Domestic Violence

The latest data from the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21) released last week has revealed how women who are victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse suffer in silence. Of all the women surveyed who had experienced physical and sexual abuse at any given point in their life, only 14 per cent opted for help. Shockingly, 77 per cent suffered in silence and never spoke about the violence inflicted on them.

Although data reveals a drop in domestic and spousal violence trends from 31 per cent in NFHS 4 (2015-16) to 29 per cent in NFHS 5 (2019-21), the worrisome reality lies in the fact that most of these crimes are committed by individuals with whom women have had intimate relationships, especially husbands. The most common spousal violence is physical violence followed by emotional and sexual violence.

Some important data highlighted by the survey are all follows

• Amongst the victims who chose to seek help, the most common source of support was her own family (58 per cent) followed by her husband’s family (27 per cent), and friends (18 per cent).

• Almost one-fourth of married women who are victims of domestic violence in the age bracket of 18 to 49 years, reported physical injuries, with 7 per cent experiencing dislocations or burns and 6 per cent experiencing serious injuries.

• 83 per cent reported their current husband and 13 per cent reported a former husband as perpetrators.

• For women who’ve never been married, the most common abusers have been mothers or stepmothers, followed by fathers or step-fathers, siblings and teachers.