Violence against women and children ranks among top global health threats, study finds
A Global Burden of Disease analysis published in The Lancet shows intimate partner violence and sexual violence against children are leading causes of premature death and disability, linked to many physical and mental health conditions and accounting for tens of millions of lost healthy years.
- GBD 2023 finds intimate partner violence ranks fourth and sexual violence against children ranks fifth among health risks for women aged 15 to 49 worldwide.
- Sexual violence against children ranked 11th among health risks for men and was linked to 14 health conditions while intimate partner violence was linked to eight conditions.
- In 2023 sexual violence against children accounted for 32.2 million DALYs and 290,000 deaths, while intimate partner violence accounted for 18.5 million DALYs and 145,000 deaths.
- More than 1 billion people aged 15 and older have experienced sexual assault in childhood and 608 million girls and women have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence.
- Nearly 30,000 women were estimated to have been killed by their partners in 2023, underscoring the lethal impact of intimate partner violence.
- Researchers say violence is preventable and call for strengthened laws, trauma informed health care, school based prevention, community programs, and economic empowerment while noting the burden is likely still underestimated due to stigma and underreporting.