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Sexual violence against girls and women is one of the strongest expressions of patriarchal cultural values, norms and traditions in Zimbabwean culture. These often cause men to believe that they have the right to abuse women’s bodies.To ascertain the breadth of the problem, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and partners recently published research indicating that 32 percent) of Zimbabwean women aged 18–24 years have experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines sexual violence as “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work.”
Alarmingly, the abuse is often committed by someone that is known to the child, including parents, spouses or partners, other family members, caretakers, teachers, employers, law enforcement authorities, state and non-state actors and other children.
Only a small proportion of these acts are reported or investigated, and even fewer perpetrators are ever held accountable for their actions.
In Zimbabwe, amongst females aged 18–24, only about 3 percent who experienced sexual violence received professional help from institutions such as clinics or NGOs.
There is significant evidence that abuse affects a child’s physical and mental health in the short and long-term. Abuse often impairs their ability to learn and socialise, and impacts their transition to adulthood with adverse consequences later in life.
Violence is often shrouded in silence and is a major contributor to mental health disorders. About half of all mental disorders recorded begin before the age of 14.
Around 20 percent of children and adolescents are estimated to have mental disorders or problems. Similar to sexual violence, stigma about mental disorders and discrimination often prevent people from seeking mental health care services.
Violence is also a leading cause of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Research has documented that women who experienced physical and/or sexual partner violence were twice as likely to have an abortion.
If the abused pregnant female carries to term, they have a 16 percent greater chance of having a low birth-weight baby — a leading cause of infant mortality and complication.
Sexual violence is often associated with a host of sexual and reproductive health problems, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, miscarriages, sexual dysfunction and gynaecological disorders.
Gender based violence is responsible for psychological distress which often results in acceptance of the problem. This acceptance results in more violence and consequently more psychological distress: an on-going cycle of risk and consequence.
Psychological distress can trigger women to use alcohol and other substances of abuse to cope with the violence. However, these substances can encourage other poor-health related risk factors such as tobacco use and unprotected sex.
Childhood abuse directly translates into adverse outcomes for adults. Abused women often suffer isolation, inability to work, loss of wages and lack participation in activities. These outcomes will prevent and limit a woman’s ability to care for herself and her family.
For additional information, please visit the Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children’s website: www.zncwc.co.zw
- The writer is a doctor and an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organisation’s goals of disease prevention and control. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Online Reporter