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According to UN Women (2017), 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced non-partner violence (physical and/or sexual). However, studies suggest that when adjusting for intimate partner violence (physical and/or sexual) the incident rate rises upwards of 70 per cent. Important to note, violence against women (regardless of age) whether sexual, physical or psychological unquestionably impacts the mind and body, as well as reproductive health and most notably all sense of autonomy. Simply stated violence against women, regardless of global region (developed or developing) remains a pressing concern given the copious negative consequences women suffer. The latter is most damaging when they suffer in silence.

With that said, it’s important to understand the definition of sexual and reproductive health, which Merson, Black, and Mills (2012) state:

Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and

not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and its processes. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. (p.115)

However, when autonomy is removed from this equation so too is their sexual and reproductive health.

Subsequently, with said rights removed women are left extremely vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to include HIV/AIDS (Merson, Black, and Mills, 2012). In some regions, women are “1.5 times more likely to acquire HIV, as compared to women who have not experienced partner violence” (UN Women, 2017, para. 2). Additionally, women who have experienced violence (physical and/or sexual) “by their partners are more than twice as likely to have an abortion, almost twice as likely to experience depression” (UN Women, 2017, para 2). Aside from the obvious implications as outlined above, violence (physical and/or sexual) touches other aspects of a woman’s life.

Consider if you will fetal health to include low birth weight, mother-to-child HIV transmission, and death, as well as access to affordable and safe care. The latter positions women to seek unsafe abortive services, which can further complicate sexual and reproductive health. While many see such concerns associated with developing countries, it’s important to highlight the current administrations current war on Planned Parenthood, which is taking place in our own country. An organization, which is

a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world that seeks to deliver vital reproductive health care, sex education and information to millions of women, men and young people worldwide. (Diggers, 2017, para. 2)

Further, it’s important to note that should the federal government defunded planned parenthood, it will result in nearly half a million women losing access to free or affordable sexual and reproductive health (Diggers, 2017).

Equally important and damaging to women are those living in countries around the globe where domestic violence is “culturally engrained, or derived from culturally-based gender roles” (Merson, Black, and Mills, 2012). Additionally, the cultural practice that impacts sexual and reproductive health is female genital mutilation. The latter is a prevalent practice in 30 countries and has resulted in an estimated 200 million genital mutilations with most taking place before age five (UNICEF, 2016). In closing, violence against women (physical and/or sexual) whether by partner or non-partner is not a perceived threat rather a significant issue that continues to impact the sexual and reproductive health of women around the globe.

References

Diggers, M. (2017). The war on planned parenthood. Retrieved from https://theseahawk.org/702/opinion/the-war-on-planned-parenthood/

Merson, M. H., Black, R. E., & Mills, A. J. (2012). Global health: Diseases, programs, systems, and policies (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 978-0-7637-8559-8

UNICEF. (2016). Female genital mutilation/cutting: A global concern. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/media/files/FGMC_2016_brochure_final_UNICEF_SPREAD.pdf

UN Women. (2017). Facts and figures: Ending violence against women. Retrieved from http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures