This story is from January 18, 2021

Violence against pregnant women up in Gujarat

The National Family Health Survey covering the 2019-20 period (NFHS-5) reveals that physical violence during pregnancy has increased 450% in urban Gujarat, while in rural areas the figure has reduced by 60%.
Violence against pregnant women up in Gujarat
Picture used for representational purpose only
AHMEDABAD: The National Family Health Survey covering the 2019-20 period (NFHS-5) reveals that physical violence during pregnancy has increased 450% in urban Gujarat, while in rural areas the figure has reduced by 60%.
One in every seven women in Gujarat has experienced spousal violence, according to the survey. The NFHS-5 data indicates that 2.2% of women in urban Gujarat experience physical violence during their pregnancy; the figure is 1.2% in rural areas.
The data reveals that over the past five years, physical violence during pregnancy has increased in urban areas, while it has dipped in rural areas. The NFHS-4 (2014-15) had revealed that 3% of rural women had experienced violence during pregnancy, compared with 0.4% of their urban counterparts.
For NFHS-5, information was gathered from 29,368 households, 33,343 women, and 5,351 men. For NFHS-4, information had been taken from 20,524 households, 22,932 women, and 6,018 men. Officials said that violence during pregnancy was more prevalent among women of Scheduled Tribes, and women who were widowed, divorced, separated, or had been deserted. Women with three children, especially girls, have experienced more violence during pregnancy than women of any other group.
According to the NFHS-5, about 3.6% of women in the 18-29 age group said they had experienced sexual violence by the time they turned 18. The percentage of such women was 3 in urban areas and 4 in rural areas.
In Gujarat, women who have experienced spousal violence was about 14% —16.8% in rural areas and 10% in urban areas.
Gaurang Jani, a sociologist, said: “Violence during pregnancy can be spurred by multiple reasons, but one could be the sex ratio in urban areas.” Jani added: “In urban areas, the insistence on a male child is more intense than in rural areas. Hence, women with two or three girl children are subjected to violence.” Jani went on to say: “We have come across several complaints from police records of women being thrown out of the house during pregnancy or after delivering a girl child.” He said that in urban areas, women’s ambition to pursue studies or career can provoke violence. “Once women become pregnant, in-laws pressurize them to quit their job or studies,” he said. “When women say there is no need for quitting, violence can be unleashed.”
author
About the Author
Himanshu Kaushik

Himanshu Kaushik is Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Ahmedabad. He reports on Wildlife and state government. He takes special interest in reporting on wildlife, especially the lions of Gir. His likes listening to music.

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA