The report, entitled “Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health consequences of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence” is the first study conducted from global data on violence against women, whether committed by their partner or by others. It reveals that 30% of women worldwide are abused by their partner.
Violence a public health problem
This report reveals the consequences of violence on the physical and mental health of women and young girls: fractures, pregnancy complications, mental problems, deterioration of social functioning, for example.
“The results of this study send a strong message that violence against women is a global public health problem of epidemic proportions.said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. “We also see that the world’s health systems can and must do more for women victims of violence.»
Alarming figures
The study shows that 38% of women are murdered by their partner. 42% of physically and sexually abused women suffer serious injuries.
Violence promotes mental health problems in women because those who have been abused are twice as prone to depression and alcoholism.
Abused women are 1.5 times more likely to catch sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chlamydia or gonorrhea and in sub-Saharan Africa, to contract HIV.
They salso have twice as many abortions and give birth to tiny babies.
“These new data show that violence against women is very common. We must urgently invest in prevention to act on the causes of this global problem for women’s healthsaid Charlotte Watts of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Rich countries also affected
According to the WHO, 45.6% of women in Africa, 36.1% of women in America, 40.2% of women in Southeast Asia, 27.2% of women in Europe, and 32.7% of women in countries high income are affected by physical and sexual violence from their partner or another person.
