PANAJI
Twenty percent of married Goan women in 18 to 49 age group have experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 5) for the year 2019-20.
As per the survey, 19 percent of the women in the 18-49 age group have experienced physical violence and 4 per cent suffered sexual violence. In all 20 percent of women experienced physical or sexual violence. three percent of women have experienced both physical and sexual violence.
Many women suffered violence even during pregnancy. Two percent of the pregnant women in the 18-49 age group have experienced violence during one or more of their pregnancies.
Rural women (3 percent) are more likely to experience violence during pregnancy than urban women (1 percent), the survey states.
Seven percent of the violence (physical) was committed by the husbands.
Spousal violence is higher among women in rural areas (15 percent) than in urban areas (6 percent).
Seven percent of the women reported of being slapped by their husbands. Four percent said they were pushed, shaken or had something thrown at them, three percent experience arm twisting or hair pulled, two percent reported being punched with a fist or something that could hurt them.
Interesting to note is the fact that only 10 per cent of the women who have experienced violence have sought help while 15 percent never sought help but told someone.
The survey states that alcohol consumption by the spouse was a major cause of married women experiencing violence. In 13 percent of cases of domestic violence, the husband got drunk on occasions.
