Relationship between Sexual Violence and the Health of Spanish Women-A National Population-Based Study

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 4; p. 3365
• Main Authors: García-Pérez, Selene, Pastor-Moreno, Guadalupe, Ruiz-Pérez, Isabel, Henares-Montiel, Jesús
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 14.02.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Abused women; Age; Aggression; Analysis; Crimes against; Cross-sectional studies; Domestic violence; Educational attainment; Equality; Family violence; Female; Gender equality; Gender-based violence; Health aspects; Health behavior; Health services; Humans; Intimate partner violence; Intimate Partner Violence - psychology; Mental health; Population studies; Population-based studies; Prevalence; Rape; Risk Factors; Sex crimes; Sex Offenses; Sexual assault; Sexual behavior; Sexual Harassment; Sexual Partners - psychology; Sociodemographics; Suicidal behavior; Suicides & suicide attempts; Surveys; Violence; Violence against women; Women; Spain; cross-sectional survey; health status; suicidal ideation; sexual violence; sexual harassment; Spain
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043365
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827

Health consequences are likely to be different when sexual violence is analysed independently from other types of violence. It is also likely that different health consequences will result in the cases of partner or ex-partner sexual violence, non-partner sexual violence and sexual harassment. This study is based on the 2019 Macro-survey of Violence against Women conducted by the Spanish Ministry of Equality on a sample of 9568 women aged 16 years or older. Odds ratios were calculated, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed. The present study estimates that 4 out of 10 surveyed women had experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. Sexual harassment is the most frequently reported form of this violence, while intimate partner sexual violence is the form with the most unfavourable sociodemographic characteristics and the worst health impact indicators, such as a greater likelihood of suicidal behaviour. Sexual violence is a widespread, under-studied problem with negative health impacts. Women exposed to intimate partner violence are the most vulnerable and at risk. It is advised that responses and comprehensive care plans be developed that place special emphasis on the protection of victims' mental health.