Sexual violence and negative health outcomes among young married women in rural Nepal

Background : This paper examines the association between sexual violence and health outcomes among young married women in rural Nepal.

Methods: The data are from a cross-sectional survey conducted with 1,296 married women aged 15 -24 years in rural Nepal in 2009-10. We used regression models adjusted for selected socioeconomic and demographics to estimate the odds ratios for the associations between sexual violence and health-related conditions and behaviors.

Results: About half of women (46%) had reported ever experience of sexual violence and 31% had experienced SV in the past 12 months. SV was associated with reported lifetime experience of unwanted pregnancy (adjusted OR 4.32), suicidal ideation/attempted suicide (OR 4.42), self-reported feeling of fear/tension (OR 3.76), depression (OR 2.68) and experiences of signs and symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (OR 2.92).

Conclusion: Our results show that sexual violence within marriage is common among women even in early years of marriage in rural Nepal. The study suggests a strong association between sexual violence and negative health consequences. Therefore, there is a need to recognize the pervasiveness of sexual violence within marriage, as well as, the negative health consequences that results from it and develop a comprehensive response at many levels.