More than a quarter of women experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes

According to a new study in The Lancet, one in every four women has suffered domestic abuse. Using data from the World Health Organisation's Global Database on the Prevalence of Violence Against Women, these new estimates show that before the COVID-19 pandemic, 27% of ever-partnered women aged 15-49 had experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner, with 13% experiencing recent violence (within the past 12 months of the survey). Because this study relies on women's self-reported experiences and domestic violence is a sensitive and stigmatised topic, the real frequency of domestic violence is likely to be greater.

This new study uses population-based surveys, improved data quality, and updated methods to offer current prevalence estimates of intimate partner violence worldwide, up to and including 2018. This research shows that governments are not able to eradicate violence against women. Despite 20 years of development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aim of eradicating violence against women by 2030 remains unmet.

Inmate partner violence affects the lives of millions of women, children, families and societies worldwide. Though conducted before the COVID-19 epidemic, the results are disturbing, as research shows that the pandemic aggravated factors contributing to intimate partner violence such as isolation, depression, and alcoholism.

The report also highlights the high rates of intimate relationship violence among teenage girls and women. Intimate partner abuse affects about one-quarter of women aged 15-19. In 2018, 16% of ever-partnered teenage girls and young women aged 15-19 and 20-24 years experienced intimate partner abuse (within the past 12 months of the survey). The assault these young women face has long-term effects on their health.

Global Burden of Disease classifications revealed that high-income nations showed lower lifetime and past-year intimate partner violence rates among ever-partnered women aged 15 to 49, with regional variations pronounced for past-year intimate partner violence.

Preventing intimate partner violence is crucial and urgent. Governments, organisations, and communities must move quickly to minimise violence against women, particularly post-COVID reconstruction efforts.