WASH,Women,and Violence: Investigating the Associations Between Households’ Access to WASH Facilities and Intimate Partner Violence in India

Abstract

Poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities heightens women's vulnerability to partnered and non-partnered violence and disproportionately impacts their health and well-being. However, no national-level study in India explores the links between WASH access and violence against women. This research examines household WASH access and its connection with intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in India. Utilizing 46,667 married women samples from National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 pan-India survey, the study analyses association of IPV with WASH indicators alongside other socio-economic variables. All WASH indicators in the study significantly associate with IPV, emphasizing an urgent need for gender-sensitive WASH research and policymaking.

Keywords

WASH intimate partner violence violence against women India NFHS-5

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