Approximately 25% of teenage girls in relationships have experienced physical or sexual abuse, according to a study released by the World Health Organisation on Tuesday, urging increased efforts for prevention.
The WHO's research, featured in the Lancet medical journal, was derived from surveys involving thousands of girls aged 15 to 19 across 154 countries and regions. The findings revealed that 24% had encountered intimate partner violence at least once, with 16% experiencing it within the last year.
Lead researcher Dr. Lynnmarie Sardinha expressed concern over the significant number of young women not receiving adequate support, stating, "I was profoundly shocked to discover the high percentage of adolescent girls facing violence before reaching their 20th birthday. We are lagging behind in our response."
The data, collected from surveys spanning 2000 to 2018, indicates a minimal decrease in violence since then. The survey considered various forms of violence, including physical assaults and unwanted sexual acts like rape or attempted rape.
The study highlighted a strong link between violence and women's rights, noting higher levels of violence in countries where girls and women face restricted education and unequal inheritance laws. Violence rates were highest in Oceania and Africa, with 49% of girls in Papua New Guinea and 42% in the Democratic Republic of Congo reporting intimate partner violence. In contrast, Europe reported the lowest rate at 10%.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, director of WHO's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research department, emphasized the need to address this issue more seriously as a public health concern, focusing on prevention and targeted support, given the profound and lasting impacts of violence during these formative years.
