Association of Consanguineous Marriage with Domestic Violence among Women in India: Evidence from the National Family Health Survey 2015-16

Abstract

This study investigates the correlation between domestic violence and marriage types in
India using data from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4).
It reveals that the prevalence of any domestic violence is notably higher among women
who had consanguineous marriage compared with those in non-consanguineous union.
This pattern persists across various forms of violence. Physical violence emerges as the
most prevalent, overshadowing emotional and sexual violence. The findings underscore
that marrying one's cousin does not offer protection against abuse for married women,
highlighting a concerning aspect often obscured by the perception of familial ties. This
heightened risk of domestic violence requires targeted interventions that emphasises
cultural sensitivity and the promotion of women's safety.