Global Study Reveals Over 1 Billion Women Experienced Childhood Sexual Violence in 2023

According to estimates published in The Lancet journal, more than one billion women aged 15 and older worldwide experienced sexual violence during childhood, while approximately 608 million faced intimate partner violence in 2023.

The highest prevalence rates of both intimate partner and sexual violence were concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Researchers noted that in these regions, the health impacts of violence are further compounded by high rates of HIV and other chronic conditions.

In India specifically, the prevalence of intimate partner violence was estimated at 23 percent among women aged 15 and above. Additionally, over 30 percent of women and 13 percent of men aged 15 and above are estimated to have experienced sexual violence during childhood.

Researchers analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023, described as the "largest, most comprehensive effort to quantify health loss across places and over time." This study is coordinated by the University of Washington in the United States.

"Globally, in 2023, we estimated that 608 million females aged 15 years and older had ever been exposed to IPV (intimate partner violence), and 1.01 billion individuals aged 15 years and older had experienced sexual violence during childhood," the study authors wrote.

Anxiety and major depressive disorders were among the eight leading causes of disability resulting from intimate partner violence. Meanwhile, experiencing sexual violence as a child was associated with 14 health outcomes, including mental health issues, substance use disorders, and chronic illnesses.

Self-harm and schizophrenia were identified as the leading causes of disability developed due to childhood sexual violence.

Researchers emphasized that addressing violence against women and children is not only a human rights issue but also a crucial public health priority that can save millions of lives, improve mental health outcomes, and build resilient communities.

These findings highlight an urgent need for preventive measures, including strengthening legal frameworks, promoting gender equality, and expanding support services for survivors to reduce the health toll caused by violence.

A World Health Organization global report published in November estimated that over one-fifth of females in India aged 15-49 were subjected to intimate partner violence in 2023, while nearly 30 percent have been affected during their lifetime.

Worldwide, nearly one in three women, or 840 million, have suffered partner or sexual violence during their lifetime—a figure that has barely changed since 2000.