Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence and Its Impact on

Reproductive Health

[DATE][SPEAKERS’ NAMES]

Part I: Prevalence of GBV

Prevalence of GBV

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent worldwide:

A WHO study conducted in 10 countries found that between 15% and 71% of women experience some form of IPV at some point in their lives; in most countries prevalence estimates range from 30% to 60%.

In most countries 20-33% of women reported IPV within the past 12 months.

Source: Garcia-Moreno et al., 2005

Prevalence of GBV: Intimate Partner Physical and Sexual Violence

75%

52%

16%19%

42%

27% 20%

32%

48%

33%

Source: Hindin et al., 2008

Prevalence of GBV: Intimate Partner Physical and Sexual Violence

Prevalence of physical or sexual violence, or both, by intimate partner among ever-partnered women, within the past 12 months,

by site

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Per

cen

tag

e

54%

34% 32%

29%

23%

15%

Source: Garcia-Moreno et al., 2005

Prevalence of GBV: Intimate Partner Physical Violence

• The WHO study found that, of ever-partnered women, 13%-61% experience physical violence at some point in their lives.

• Most study sites found a prevalence of 23%-49% of physical IPV.

Source: Garcia-Moreno et al., 2005

Prevalence of GBV: Sexual Violence

•The WHO study found that 6% to 59% of women reported experience of sexual violence at some point in their lives, with most sites within the 10% to 50% range

•1% to 44% of women experienced sexual violence in the 12 months prior to the study

Source: Garcia-Moreno et al., 2005

Prevalence of GBV: Sexual Violence

Percentage of women reporting forced 1st experience of sexual intercourse among sexually experienced women

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Source: Garcia- Moreno et al. 2005

29%

4.3%

16.6%

23.6%

5.3 %

26.6%

Part II: Impact of GBV on Reproductive Health

Health Consequences of GBV

Fatal Outcomes Non-fatal Outcomes

•Femicide

•Suicide

•AIDS-related mortality

•Maternal mortality

Physical Sexual & Reproductive

Psychological & Behavioral

•Fractures

•Chronic pain syndromes

•Fibromyalgia

•Permanent disability

•Gastro-intestinal disorders

•Sexually-transmitted infections, including HIV

•Unintended pregnancy

•Pregnancy complications

•Traumatic gynecologic fistula

•Abortion complications

 

•Depression and anxiety

•Eating and sleep disorders

•Drug and alcohol abuse

•Poor self-esteem

•Post-traumatic stress disorder

•Self-harm

Source: Adapted from Bott, Morrison, and Ellsberg, 2005.

GBV Is a Public Health Issue

Source: Heise et al.,1994.

Source: Dominican Republic Demographic and Health Survey, 2000, cited in Kishor and Johnson, 2004.

Percentage of women who report health outcomes as a consequence of acts carried out by their husbands or partners

Health Consequences of GBV

GBV Has Severe Reproductive Health Impacts

• Violence during pregnancy– Intimate partner violence prevalence of 4-15% during

pregnancy

– Leading cause of death among pregnant women may be homicide

• Violence and HIV/AIDS– Low relationship power and intimate partner violence

increase risk of incident HIV infection

– Forced sex is correlated to HIV risk

– Victims of violence tend to engage in behaviors that put their health at risk

– Proposing condom use may increase women’s risk of violence

– Disclosing HIV status may increase risk of violence

GBV Has Severe Reproductive Health Impacts (continued)

“It is said that we were all born under a star; when I watch the stars at night I

ask which of them is mine, so that I can change it for another one.”

--Survivor of GBV, Peru(in Velzeboer et al., 2003)

References

Bott, S., A. Morrison, and M. Ellsberg. 2005. Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence in Middle and Low-income Countries: A Global Review and Analysis. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3618. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Campbell, J.C. 2002. “Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence.” Lancet 359(9314): 1331–1336.

Campbell, J.C., and K. L. Soeken. 1999. “Forced Sex and Intimate Partner Violence: Effects on Women’s Risk and Women’s Health.” Violence Against Women 5(9): 1017–1035.

Coker A., P. Smith, L. Bethea, M. King, and R. McKeown. 2000. “Physical Health Consequences of Physical and Psychological Intimate Partner Violence.” Archives of Family Medicines 9(5): 451–457.

Garcia-Moreno, Claudia. Henrica, A.F.M. Ellsberg, M.E. Heise, L. Watts, C. 2005. “WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence Against Women.” Geneva, Switzerland: WHO.

References, continued

Gielen, A.C., P.J. O’Campo, J.C. Campbell, J. Schollenberger, A.B. Woods, A.S. Jones, J.A. Dienemann, J. Kub, and E.C. Wynee. 2000. “Women’s Opinions About Domestic Violence Screening and Mandatory Reporting.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 19(4): 279–285.

Heise, Lori, Jacqueline Pitanguy, and Adrienne Germain. 1994. “Violence against Women: The Hidden Health Burden.” World Bank Discussion Paper No. 255. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Heise, L., M. Ellsberg, and M. Gottemoeller. 1999. “Ending Violence Against Women.” Population Reports XXVII (Number 4, Series L, Number 11).

Hindin, Michelle J., S. Kishor, and D.L. Ansara. 2008. “Intimate Partner Violence Among Couples in 10 DHS Countries: Predictors and Health Outcomes.” Calverton, MD: USAID.

Horon, Isabelle. 2001. “Enhanced Surveillance for Pregnancy-Related Mortality: Maryland, 1993–1998.” Journal of the American Medical Association 285:1455–459.

References, continued

Jewkes, R.J., K.Dunkle, M. Nduna, and N. Shai. 2010. “Intimate Partner Violence, Relationship Power Inequity, and Incidence of HIV Infection in Young Women in South Africa: A Cohort Study.” Lancet Early Online Publication, 16 June 2010.

Jewkes, R., C. Vundule, F. Maforah, and E. Jordaan. 2001. “Relationship Dynamics and Adolescent Pregnancy in South Africa.” Social Science and Medicine 52(5):733–744.

Kishor, S. and K. Johnson, 2004, Profiling Domestic Violence – A Multi-Country Study. Calverton, Maryland: ORC Macro.

Letorneau, E., M. Holmes, and J. Chasedunn-Roark. 1999. “Gynecologic Health Consequences to Victims of Interpersonal Violence.” Women’s Health Issues 9(2): 115–120.

Maman, S., J. Campbell, M. Sweat, and A. Gielen. 2000. “The Intersections of HIV and Violence: Directions for Future Research and Interventions.” Social Science and Medicine 50: 459–478.

Maman, S., J. Mbwambo, J. Campbell, M. Hogan, G. Kilonzo, E. Weiss, and M. Sweat. 2002. “HIV- 1 Positive Women Report More Lifetime Experiences with Violence: Findings from a Voluntary HIV-1 Counseling and Testing Clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.” American Journal of Public Health 92(8): 1331-1337.

References, continued

Muhajarine, N., and C. D’Arcy. 1999. “Physical Abuse During Pregnancy: Prevalence and Risk Factors.”Canadian Medical Association Journal 160: 1007–1011.

Murphy, C.C., B. Schei, T.L. Myhr, and J. Du Mont. 2001. “Abuse: a Risk Factor for Low Birth Weight? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 164(11): 1567–72.

Velzeboer, M., M. Ellsberg, C. Arcas, and C. Garcia-Moreno. 2003. Violence Against Women: The Health Sector Responds. Washington, DC: Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).

Thank You!