Intimate Partner Violence and use of Family Planning Methods in India: Results from National Family Health Survey- 5

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has several impacts on women’s mental, sexual, and reproductive
health. It is likely that women experiencing IPV use more contraception to avert pregnancy under unfavourable
conditions or vice-versa. Present study evaluated the association between IPV and use of family planning methods
among married women in India.
Methods: This study is based on the secondary data derived from the National Family Health survey-5 (NFHS- 5,
2019-21). A total of 53,151 married women aged 15- 49 years selected for domestic violence survey were included
in the study. Data was analysed using statistical software SPSS version 28.0. Complex sample logistic regression
was used to see the effect of intimate partner violence (IPV) on use of family planning methods.
Results: Results indicated that 26.2% of the women suffered from one or other form of IPV in past one year.
Female methods (52.9%) were found to be most commonly used methods of family planning. Women suffered
less severe physical violence by intimate partner were 1.2 times more likely to adopt family planning methods.
Severe physical violence, sexual violence and emotional violence were not found to be associated with use of
family planning methods.
Conclusion: Women who experienced less severe physical violence were more likely to adopt family planning
methods. Intervention efforts should focus on screening for IPV, improving access to assistance for women who
have experienced spousal violence, and providing greater accessibility to female-controlled contraception