Spatial Spillover Effects: Domestic Violence in Nepal

One possible reason for the persistence of domestic violence in Nepal is a domestic violence spatial spillover effect in which the occurrence of domestic violence in one household or area impacts the incidence of domestic violence in a neighbouring one.  To test the hypothesis of a domestic violence spillover effect, we use the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, including global positioning system (GPS) data, to provide a detailed assessment of the spatial relationship between neighbouring households’ opinions and incidence of domestic violence.  Our a multivariate spatial autoregression model provides evidence of spatial spillover of less severe violence, the most common form of physical violence in Nepal, while controlling for other factors.  Results suggest that focusing policy efforts to mitigate domestic violence in one area may reduce the incidence in neighboring areas, leading to an overall reduction across the country.