English  Français

Economic abuse and its associations with symptoms of common mental disorders among women in a cross-sectional survey in informal settlements in Mumbai, India

Suman Kanougiya, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
Nayreen Daruwalla, Society for Nutrition, Education & Health Action (SNEHA), Mumbai India
Lu Gram, Institute for Global Health, University College London, London WC1N IEH, UK
Apoorwa Gupta, Society for Nutrition, Education & Health Action (SNEHA), Mumbai India
Sivakami Muthusamy, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India
David Osrin, University College London

Economic abuse is associated with CMDs however, no empirical evidence from India was found. The prevalence of economic abuse, its determinants, and association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation was examined in urban informal settlements in a cross-sectional survey among women aged 18–49 years on economic resources, demographic and socioeconomic factors, physical, sexual, emotional violence, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and asked about suicidal thinking. Applied univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Economic abuse was 23% by either an intimate partner or another family member. Economic abuse was more commonly reported by widowed, separated, or divorced women (aOR 12.4; 95% CI 6.4, 24.1) and when their partners used alcohol or drugs (aOR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2–1.7). Women had greater odds of reporting economic abuse if they had suffered emotional (aOR 6.3; 95% CI 5.0–7.9), physical (aOR 1.9; 95% CI 1.4–2.6), or sexual violence (aOR 5.4; 95% CI 3.6–8.1) in the preceding 12 months. Economic abuse was independently associated with positive screens for moderate-severe depression (aOR 2.6; 95% CI 2.0–3.4), anxiety (aOR 2.7; 95% CI 1.9–3.8), and suicidal ideation (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.5–3.1). Economic abuse is at least as harmful to women’s mental health as physical violence.

Keywords: Gender

See paper.

  Presented in Session 5. Gendered Impacts of Migration and Squatter Living