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Intersection of Caste/Ethnic Affiliation and Poverty Among Married Women in Intimate Partner Violence: the Case of Nepal

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Abstract

This study explores the intersection of caste/ethnic affiliation and poverty in intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in Nepal. The study uses the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey and analyzes 3176 currently married women between the ages of 15 to 49. Bivariate analyses revealed that IPV was more prevalent among women from underprivileged castes and ethnic groups (21 to 49 percent) compared to high caste Hindu women in Nepal (19 percent). Logistic regression models showed that women from underprivileged castes and ethnic groups were 52 to 190 % more likely to experience IPV than high caste Hindu women. Additionally, this study found that women with low levels of educational attainment and women who were child brides were significantly more likely to experience IPV compared to their more educated counterparts and women who were not child brides. Given these findings, government and non-governmental organizations should target services and interventions to women from poor and underprivileged communities in Nepal. Furthermore, social workers can assist in curtailing the prevalence of IPV by advocating for increased educational opportunities for girls and for stricter enforcement of laws prohibiting child marriage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Welfare, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea

    Madhu Sudhan Atteraya

  2. George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, 63130, USA

    Vithya Murugan & Shanta Pandey

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  1. Madhu Sudhan Atteraya
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  2. Vithya Murugan
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Correspondence to Madhu Sudhan Atteraya.

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Atteraya, M.S., Murugan, V. & Pandey, S. Intersection of Caste/Ethnic Affiliation and Poverty Among Married Women in Intimate Partner Violence: the Case of Nepal. Glob Soc Welf 4, 81–90 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-016-0056-2

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