Domestic Violence : Knowledge and Perception of Adolescents

The present study was undertaken in urban and rural areas of Haryana state. Total sample constituted of 160 adolescents. Objectives of the present study were to assess knowledge and perception of adolescents towards domestic violence, to provide awareness program about domestic violence and to assess its impact on their knowledge and perception and finally to isolate the factors affecting domestic violence. The results about knowledge of adolescents towards domestic violence revealed that at pre-exposure majority of adolescents had poor knowledge about domestic violence Results about perception of adolescents towards domestic violence revealed that alcoholism, extra/pre marital relationship and dowry were perceived as the major causes of domestic violence by both rural and urban adolescents. Both rural and urban adolescents perceived stress, anger outburst and suicidal thoughts as the major consequences of domestic violence faced by the victims. Results about impact of awareness program revealed that there was gain in knowledge of adolescents towards every aspect of domestic violence and awareness program had a good impact on knowledge and perception of adolescents.