The report, titled “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 to be conducted. based on global data on violence against women, whether perpetrated by their partners or others. It reveals that 30% of women in the world 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 girls: fractures, pregnancy complications, mental problems, deterioration in social functioning, for example.
“The results of this study send a strong message: violence against women is an epidemic global public health problem”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 women’s mental health problems because those who have been abused are twice as prone to depression, and alcoholism.
Abused women are 1.5 times more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chlamydia or gonorrhea and in sub-Saharan Africa, to contract HIV.
They sThey also 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 in order 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 earners are affected by physical and sexual violence from their partner or other person.