Domestic violence and its impact on fertility behavior: Evidence from Nationally Representative Household Survey Data in India

Patriarchal nature of Indian society has legitimized the perpetuation of domestic violence on women since ages. Many times women have to suffer violence which may be perpetrated by their husband or family members/relatives. Using data from NFHS-3, present study examines the relationship between domestic violence and fertility behavior among currently married women in India. Using multiple linear and logistic regressions the relationship between the exposure to different forms of domestic violence and fertility behavior has been explored. Fertility behavior is measured by children ever born, ideal family size and desire for another child. The findings reveal that the experience of any violence reduces the pace of fertility transition. It indicates significantly strong positive effect of life time exposure to domestic physical, domestic sexual and any domestic violence on the children ever born. This suggests that the women who experience domestic violence are likely to produce more children. Findings highlight no significant association between life time exposure to any form of domestic violence with the ideal family size. The study highlights the critical need to address the menace of domestic violence against women that potentially stifles the contemporary fertility transition in India, particularly in the North-central India