scholarly journals What do we know about the impact of sexual violence on health and health behaviour of women in Estonia?  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedda Lippus ◽  
Made Laanpere ◽  
Kai Part ◽  
Inge Ringmets ◽  
Helle Karro

Abstract Background: Sexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18–44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data.Results: Of the respondents, 22.7% (n=379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18–1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70–2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62–7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80–3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09–2.01).Conclusions: In Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made, both among the general public and professionals, to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedda Lippus ◽  
Made Laanpere ◽  
Kai Part ◽  
Inge Ringmets ◽  
Helle Karro

Abstract Background Sexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18–44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results Of the respondents, 22.7% (n = 379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18–1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70–2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62–7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80–3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09–2.01). Conclusions In Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made, both among the general public and professionals, to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedda Lippus ◽  
Made Laanpere ◽  
Kai Part ◽  
Inge Ringmets ◽  
Helle Karro

Abstract Background: Sexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18–44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data.Results: Of the respondents, 22.7% (n=379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18–1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70–2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62–7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80–3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09–2.01).Conclusions: In Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made, both among the general public and professionals, to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedda Lippus ◽  
Made Laanpere ◽  
Kai Part ◽  
Inge Ringmets ◽  
Helle Karro

Abstract BackgroundSexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18–44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data.ResultsOf the respondents, 22.7% (n=379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18–1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70–2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62–7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80–3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09–2.01).ConclusionsIn Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence, both among the general public and professionals. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyush Kumar

BackgroundThe safety of women is of significance and prime concern in India due to a huge female population, equity issues, gender issues, lack of positive deviance at community level, illiteracy, socio-economic factors, migration from rural to urban areas, inaccessibility to legal help and of course many more factors. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had presented a challenge even for developed nations around the world regarding women’s protection in the ongoing pandemic era & especially in the lockdown period when it’s really difficult to go out and shout for help. Aim and ObjectivesThe main aim of this research is to find out impact of SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on violence against women in India across different states and union territories from the beginning of pandemic i.e. January 2020. The objective is to find out that the covid-19 era has a positive or negative impact over violence against women. Data from various accredited sources were continuously collected, observed and analysed for this research study. Settings & DesignThe month-wise and state-wise data indicating number of complaints registered with National Commission for Women in India(NCW) under different categories are presented in different table 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7,8 will be discussed and displayed. The period of study is from January 2018 to 2021 December. This is a retrospective cross-sectional continuous observational qualitative and quantitative as well as comparative study. The two years of covid-19 pandemic i.e. 2020 and 2021 is compared two previous two years to know the impact of covid-19 on violence against women in India.Materials & MethodologyThe data is collected from accredited and reliable sources of National commission for women, India as well as various other sources listed in this research study. The data obtained is analysed by using Microsoft Office software. ResultIncrease in violence against women in India is seen in this covid-19 pandemic era as compared to pre-pandemic years under observation. See Figure 1 and figure 2:- comparison of number of cases of domestic violence and various forms of violence to know the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and lockdown situations in India. During the second year of pandemic i.e. 2021 the total numbers of Nature-Wise Report of the Complaints Received by NCW was 30865 which is an increase by 55.03 % compared to 2018 and 56.43 % as compared to 2019.ConclusionIndia should have various strategies to ensure safety of women and their mental health issues in such pandemic like situations. It seems that present laws and regulations are insufficient to give the desired results. The barriers of legal and protective system and delivery of helpful services etc. constraints should be rectified added with a proper dynamic plan to carry on usual women protection services even in pandemics and natural disasters. Keywords- SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, violence, women, lockdown, domestic abuse,


Author(s):  
Niels-Peter Brøchner Nygaard ◽  
Gert Frank Thomsen ◽  
Jesper Rasmussen ◽  
Lars Rauff Skadhauge ◽  
Bibi Gram

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of age, musculoskeletal pain and ergonomic exposure on workability in the oldest group of workers. Methods: The study was a population based cross-sectional survey. The study population comprised citizens born between 1952–1966, living in Esbjerg municipality ultimo 2016 (n = 23,463). A questionnaire was sent electronically or by mail. The analysis included the working population only. A stereotype logistic regression was used with the primary dependent variable being workability and independent variables included age, musculoskeletal pain, and ergonomic exposure. Results: The response rate was 58% and the data demonstrated a significant negative association between age and workability. With excellent workability as a reference, the odds for poor workability increased by 97% being 60+ y compared to 50–55 y. Both moderate intensity and severe musculoskeletal pain in the back, shoulder and knee/hip all showed significantly higher odds for poor workability. Ergonomic exposures, such as standing/walking, working with back bent or twisted and carrying or lifting had a significant negative impact on workability. Conclusion: Age, musculoskeletal pain and ergonomic exposures showed a significant negative impact on workability in the oldest group of workers and should be targeted with preventive initiatives.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyush Kumar

BackgroundThe safety of women is of significance and prime concern in India due to a huge female population, equity issues, gender issues, lack of positive deviance at community level, illiteracy, socio-economic factors, migration from rural to urban areas, inaccessibility to legal help and of course many more factors. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had presented a challenge even for developed nations around the world regarding women’s protection in the ongoing pandemic era & especially in the lockdown period when it’s really difficult to go out and shout for help. Aim and ObjectivesThe main aim of this research is to find out impact of SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on violence against women in India across different states and union territories from the beginning of pandemic i.e. January 2020. The objective is to find out that the covid-19 era has a positive or negative impact over violence against women. Data from various accredited sources were continuously collected, observed and analysed for this research study. Settings & DesignThe month-wise and state-wise data indicating number of complaints registered with National Commission for Women in India(NCW) under different categories are presented in different table 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7,8 will be discussed and displayed. The period of study is from January 2018 to 2021 December. This is a retrospective cross-sectional continuous observational qualitative and quantitative as well as comparative study. The two years of covid-19 pandemic i.e. 2020 and 2021 is compared two previous two years to know the impact of covid-19 on violence against women in India.Materials & MethodologyThe data is collected from accredited and reliable sources of National commission for women, India as well as various other sources listed in this research study. The data obtained is analysed by using Microsoft Office software. To reduce the length of article the detailed description and analysis is not provided in this version.ResultIncrease in violence against women in India is seen in this covid-19 pandemic era as compared to pre-pandemic years under observation. See Figure 1 and figure 2:- comparison of number of cases of domestic violence and various forms of violence to know the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and lockdown situations in India. During the second year of pandemic i.e. 2021 the total numbers of Nature-Wise Report of the Complaints Received by NCW was 30865 which is an increase by 55.03 % compared to 2018 and 56.43 % as compared to 2019.ConclusionIndia should have various strategies to ensure safety of women and their mental health issues in such pandemic like situations. It seems that present laws and regulations are insufficient to give the desired results. The barriers of legal and protective system and delivery of helpful services etc. constraints should be rectified added with a proper dynamic plan to carry on usual women protection services even in pandemics and natural disasters. Keywords- SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, violence, women, lockdown, domestic abuse,


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyush Kumar ◽  
Advocate Anupama

Abstract BackgroundThe safety of women is of significance and prime concern in India due to a huge female population, equity issues, gender issues, lack of positive deviance at community level, illiteracy, socio-economic factors, migration from rural to urban areas, inaccessibility to legal help and of course many more factors. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had presented a challenge even for developed nations around the world regarding women’s protection in the ongoing pandemic era & especially in the lockdown period when it’s really difficult to go out and shout for help. Aim and ObjectivesThe main aim of this research is to find out impact of SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on violence against women in India across different states and union territories from the beginning of pandemic i.e. January 2020. The objective is to find out that the covid-19 era has a positive or negative impact over violence against women. Data from various accredited sources were continuously collected, observed and analysed for this research study. Settings & DesignThe month-wise and state-wise data indicating number of complaints registered with National Commission for Women in India(NCW) under different categories are presented in different table 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7,8 will be discussed and displayed. The period of study is from January 2018 to 2021 December. This is a retrospective cross-sectional continuous observational qualitative and quantitative as well as comparative study. The two years of covid-19 pandemic i.e. 2020 and 2021 is compared two previous two years to know the impact of covid-19 on violence against women in India.Materials & MethodologyThe data is collected from accredited and reliable sources of National commission for women, India as well as various other sources listed in this research study. The data obtained is analysed by using Microsoft Office software. To reduce the length of article the detailed description and analysis is not provided in this version.ResultIncrease in violence against women in India is seen in this covid-19 pandemic era as compared to pre-pandemic years under observation. See Figure 1 and figure 2:- comparison of number of cases of domestic violence and various forms of violence to know the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and lockdown situations in India. During the second year of pandemic i.e. 2021 the total numbers of Nature-Wise Report of the Complaints Received by NCW was 30865 which is an increase by 55.03 % compared to 2018 and 56.43 % as compared to 2019.ConclusionIndia should have various strategies to ensure safety of women and their mental health issues in such pandemic like situations. It seems that present laws and regulations are insufficient to give the desired results. The barriers of legal and protective system and delivery of helpful services etc. constraints should be rectified added with a proper dynamic plan to carry on usual women protection services even in pandemics and natural disasters.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyush Kumar ◽  
Advocate Anupama

Abstract BackgroundThe safety of women is of significance and prime concern in India due to a huge female population, equity issues, gender issues, lack of positive deviance at community level, illiteracy, socio-economic factors, migration from rural to urban areas, inaccessibility to legal help and of course many more factors. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had presented a challenge even for developed nations around the world regarding women’s protection in the ongoing pandemic era & especially in the lockdown period when it’s really difficult to go out and shout for help. Aim and ObjectivesThe main aim of this research is to find out impact of SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on violence against women in India across different states and union territories from the beginning of pandemic i.e. January 2020. The objective is to find out that the covid-19 era has a positive or negative impact over violence against women. Data from various accredited sources were continuously collected, observed and analysed for this research study.Settings & DesignThe month-wise and state-wise data indicating number of complaints registered with National Commission for Women in India(NCW) under different categories are presented in different table 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7,8 will be discussed and displayed. The period of study is from January 2018 to 2021 December. This is a retrospective cross-sectional continuous observational qualitative and quantitative as well as comparative study. The two years of covid-19 pandemic i.e. 2020 and 2021 is compared two previous two years to know the impact of covid-19 on violence against women in India.Materials & MethodologyThe data is collected from accredited and reliable sources of National commission for women, India as well as various other sources listed in this research study. The data obtained is analysed by using Microsoft Office software. To reduce the length of article the detailed description and analysis is not provided in this version.ResultIncrease in violence against women in India is seen in this covid-19 pandemic era as compared to pre-pandemic years under observation. See Figure 1 and figure 2:- comparison of number of cases of domestic violence and various forms of violence to know the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and lockdown situations in India. During the second year of pandemic i.e. 2021 the total numbers of Nature-Wise Report of the Complaints Received by NCW was 30865 which is an increase by 55.03 % compared to 2018 and 56.43 % as compared to 2019.ConclusionIndia should have various strategies to ensure safety of women and their mental health issues in such pandemic like situations. It seems that present laws and regulations are insufficient to give the desired results. The barriers of legal and protective system and delivery of helpful services etc. constraints should be rectified added with a proper dynamic plan to carry on usual women protection services even in pandemics and natural disasters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazen El Ghaziri ◽  
Shellie Simons ◽  
Jane Lipscomb ◽  
Carla L. Storr ◽  
Kathleen McPhaul ◽  
...  

Background: Workplace Bullying (WPB) can have a tremendous, negative impact on the victims and the organization as a whole. The purpose of this study was to examine individual and organizational impact associated with exposure to bullying in a large U.S. unionized public sector workforce. Methods: A cross-sectional Web-based survey was conducted among 16,492 U.S. state government workers. Survey domains included demographics, negative acts (NAs) and bullying, supportiveness of the organizational climate, and individual and organizational impacts of bullying. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the impact among respondents who reported exposure to bullying. Findings: A total of 72% participants responded to the survey (n = 11,874), with 43.7% (n = 5,181) reporting exposure to NAs and bullying. A total of 40% (n = 4,711) participants who experienced WPB reported individual impact(s) while 42% ( n = 4,969) reported organization impact(s). Regular NA was associated with high individual impact (negatively impacted them personally; odds ratio [OR] = 5.03) when controlling for other covariates including: female gender (OR =1.89) and job tenure of 6 to 10 years (OR = 1.95); working in a supportive organizational climate and membership in a supportive bargaining unit were protective of high impact (OR = 0.04 and OR = 0.59, respectively). High organizational impact (transferring to another position) was associated with regular NA and bullying (OR = 16.26), female gender (OR = 1.55), providing health care and field service (OR = 1.68), and protective effect of organizational climate (OR = 0.39). We found a dose-response relationship between bullying and both individual and organizational-level impact. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Understanding the impacts of WPB should serve to motivate more workplaces and unions to implement effective interventions to ameliorate the problem by enhancing the organizational climate, as well as management and employee training on the nature of WPB and guidance on reporting.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e032953
Author(s):  
Seydou Kaboré ◽  
Tieba Millogo ◽  
Joseph Kouesyandé Soubeiga ◽  
Hermann Lanou ◽  
Brice Bicaba ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity in Burkina Faso using a population-based countrywide sample. We hypothesise that there is a significant burden related to overweight/obesity in Burkina Faso.DesignSecondary analysis of a population-based countrywide cross-sectional study.SettingBurkina Faso, all the 13 regions including both rural and urban residential areas.Participants4800 participants of both sexes, aged between 25 and 64 years.Main outcomesOverweight and obesity using body mass index cut-off levels of the WHO.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in Burkina Faso were 13.82% (95% CI: 12.25 to 15.55) and 4.84% (95% CI: 3.99 to 5.86), respectively. Among men, the proportional odds of overweight/obesity increase with urban residency (p<0.001), greater age (p<0.002), marital status different from single (p≤0.007) and decrease with current smoking (p=0.009). Among women, the proportional odds of overweight/obesity increase with urban residency (p<0.001), primary educational level (p=0.01), high total blood cholesterol level (p<0.001) and high fasting blood glucose level (p=0.02), and decrease with current smoking (p<0.001).ConclusionOur study showed that nearly one person out of five in the adult population of Burkina has an abnormal weight status with women being more affected than men. Urban residency is a consistent risk factor in both men and women. Alcohol consumption and education were associated with an increased odds in only women. Overnutrition needs to be recognised as an important public health issue in Burkina Faso and nutrition interventions need to be reshaped to account for it.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document