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Physical, mental and emotional abuse are
major public health problems and violations of women's human rights. Currently,
there are few global interventions that have been proven effective at
preventing violence against women. This is likely the result of the deep rooted
familial and cultural strongholds that will continue to repeat themselves until
we personally take responsibility and change it.
Action is not solely up to governments,
organizations or groups -- It starts with you.
Violence has major health consequences
Physical and sexual violence have serious
short and long-term health implications.
Abuse effects mental health, reproductive health and a vast array of
other physical health problems such as increased rates of cancer, HIV and other
STI's. In some cases, fatal injuries can
result.
Other health effects have been found to
include headaches, back pain, abdominal pain, fibromyalgia and digestive
disorders according to WHO. Sadly,
violence can lead to unintended pregnancies, induced abortions, miscarriage,
pre-term delivery, low birth weight and stillbirth. Violence starts harming our
children before they're even born.
Violence can also cause the misuse of
tobacco, drugs and alcohol. The overall
combination can lead to future depression, post-traumatic stress disorder,
difficulty sleeping, eating disorders, emotional distress and possible
suicide. It has also been shown to
increase risky sexual behaviors and one to pursue and stay in known
dysfunctional relationships.
Escalating financial & societal costs
Sexual violence against girls and women is most
common but it also happens against boys.
WHO reports that international studies have revealed 20 percent of women
and 5 to 10 percent of men have reported being victims of sexual violence as a
child. This abuse directly translates
into violence throughout the individual's life.
Children become who they see. Abuse early in life will set up a cascade of
negative outcomes throughout life that will have high social and economic
costs. Events such as missing school,
visiting doctors, poor performance, lack of interest and poor overall lifestyle
will cost society and its future positive advancement. Our children are our future and they are
looking to you as an example.
Women often suffer isolation, inability to
work, loss of wages and lack participation in activities. All of these aspects will prevent and limit
their ability to care for themselves and their children. The side effects of abuse often causes more
abuse.
Am I at risk of abuse?
Coincidently, many of the risk factors of
being a victim and being the abuser are very similar. It's the way we are raised as children --
what we are exposed to, how we cope and what we learn to be acceptable behavior
in families, communities and the wider society.
Abused boys become the abusers, abused girls become the victims. The
vicious cycle continues.
One of the major preventable risk factors is
education. Education does not mean
whether an individual is smart or not. It's usually just a reflection of
inward, personal and self-preservation thoughts versus outward and
societal-impact thoughts. The greater
one's education, the greater the understanding of their actions have on others
and society. Education provides us with
greater responsibility -- to our children, our spouse, our community and our
society.
It is a known fact that males who have
multiple partners or are suspected by their partners of infidelity to have
higher rates of abuse. This is also true
for marital discord and dissatisfaction.
In many cultures it involves the ideology of sexual entitlement and
power. All of these are not passed down
through genetics, it's our choices.
Choices can be changed.
How can I prevent violence?
School-based programs to prevent violence
within dating relationships have been found to be the most effective. However, this intervention technique requires
such a program to exist to be effective.
If it does not exist, find community-based initiatives that address
gender inequality, communication and relationship skills.
Other primary prevention strategies include
increased awareness, improved education, reduced access to alcohol and the
elimination of drug use. Cultural gender
norms are usually not "normal", but common. The "normal" of tomorrow can be
changed by applying the prevention techniques and reducing the risk factors.
Legislation and policy development
To achieve lasting change, it is important to
enact legislation and develop policies that protect women. Are there strict consequences of violence in
place? A multi-sectoral response is
needed to address the needs of the victims and the survivors of violence. An appropriate response from the health
sector should help prevent violence by increasing awareness and by supporting
community-based initiatives. Support
cannot only be in the private sector.
Preventing childhood abuse
It is important to talk to your children
sexual abuse in age-appropriate terms.
Set standards by teaching children that some parts of their body are
private and off limits to everyone. Let
them know that other people should not be touching or looking at their private
parts. Teach them to communicate to a
trusted adult as soon as possible.
The best way to identify if there is a
problem is to be involved in your child's life.
Sexual abuse can cause changes in mood, connectedness, joy or other
emotions that can be identified through communication with your child. Get to know their friends and their
parents.
We can help decrease sexual abuse and
violence by speaking out, educating ourselves and others. The vicious cycle
cannot continue, change is coming. We
must move our culture away from the violence that is crippling us. When you ask your children, "What do you
dream about?", would you be content to hear them say "I dream to be
an abuser or a victim"? It's up to
us to be the change that we want to see in the world.
Dr. Cory Couillard is an international
healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites
and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World
Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare
education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Email:
drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
In the news:
Nicaragua
Dominican Republic
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
One Caribbean Radio
In the news:
Nicaragua
Dominican Republic
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
One Caribbean Radio
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