Lancet Study: Over 1 Billion Faced Childhood Sexual Violence in 2023
Lancet Study: Over 1 Billion Faced Childhood Sexual Violence in 2023
Global Lancet study links childhood sexual violence to health crises, with stark regional concentration and gendered impacts.
New global estimates published in The Lancet reveal that 1.01 billion people aged 15 and older experienced sexual violence during childhood in 2023, while about 608 million females aged 15 and up were exposed to intimate partner violence. The findings underscore a vast and ongoing global health crisis that spans regions and generations.
The study notes that the highest prevalence of both intimate partner violence and sexual violence against children is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where health outcomes are further complicated by high rates of HIV and other chronic conditions. Researchers analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, coordinated by the University of Washington, highlighting how violence is linked to a wider range of health problems than previously recognized.
In India, the prevalence of intimate partner violence among women aged 15 and older was estimated at 23 percent. Across the population, more than 30 percent of women and about 13 percent of men aged 15 and older are estimated to have experienced sexual violence as a child. The researchers emphasize that intimate partner violence and childhood sexual violence are associated with multiple health outcomes, including mental health issues and chronic illnesses, with anxiety and major depressive disorders among the leading causes of disability connected to IPV and childhood violence contributing to at least 14 health outcomes such as mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
The study also notes a deadly toll, with IPV linked to an estimated 145,000 deaths worldwide, largely from homicide, suicide, and HIV/AIDS. The researchers stress the urgency of reinforcing legal protections, expanding survivor support services, and investing in prevention efforts to curb violence and its long-term health consequences.
Experts and advocates say these numbers demand coordinated action across health, legal, and social systems, along with sustained funding for prevention, screening, and survivor-centered services. The findings call for stronger global commitments to protect children and women from violence and to address the cascading health effects that violence inflicts on individuals, families, and communities.
Cover image source: Over 1 billion people faced childhood sexual violence in 2023: Lancet 🔗
