A landmark Violence against Women study that was conducted earlier this month revealed that almost a third of Women in the Lao PDR have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse at the hands of their partner.  As a result, a dissemination workshop for the health sector was conducted by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on April 8 at the New Rose Hotel.

The workshop aimed to gather health officials to discuss the current system, mechanisms, tools, and the capacity of the health sector to respond to and address the issue of Violence against Women (VAW).

Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health Assoc. Prof. Dr Phouthone MuongPak said at the workshop, “We need a collective response system at all levels of the health sector to support survivors with appropriate and quality healthcare services including sexual and reproductive health.”

The study showed that VAW has serious direct and indirect consequences on women’s physical and mental health in both the short and long term.  Nearly half of all women who were physically or sexually abused by their partners reported frequent physical injuries, and survivors of violence are four times more likely to consider suicide.  The violence can have long-term consequences for both the women and their children.

According to the study, pregnant women who suffered physical and / or sexual violence had a higher likelihood of having a miscarriage (30.6%) or abortion (18.5%) than those who did not experience violence (20.4% and 8.7%, respectively).

“VAW has serious consequences on women’s physical and mental health and well-being.  We need to ensure that women can access healthcare including reproductive health, post-rape care, and counseling,” said UNFPA Representative Frederika Meijer.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL

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