In fact, as per the report, the greatest amount of violence was reported by women living in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Peru and Tanzania.

“The findings illustrate the extent to which violence is a reality in partnered women’s lives, with a large proportion of women having some experience of violence during their partnership and many having recent experiences of abuse,” it underlines.

Across all countries, emotionally abusive acts including being insulted or made to feel bad about oneself, being humiliated in front of others were found to be happening.

It was investigated that in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Peru and Tanzania, between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of women felt that they did not have right to refuse sex under any circumstances.

“Injury is a recognised consequence of violence by a male partner, but isn’t the only outcome. Gynaecological and gastrointestinal disorders, and mental health problems are common,” says the Lancet.

The prevalence of injury among women who had ever been physically abused by their partner ranged from 19 per cent in Ethiopia to 55 per cent in Peru. In Thailand, Namibia, Peru, Tanzania over 20 per cent of the ever injured women reported that they had been injured various times in eyes and ears.

The investigations suggested that women who had ever experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner had higher levels of emotional distress and seen to have attempted suicide. WHO experts, therefore, recommend promotion of gender equality, enhancing of capacity and establishing of systems to monitor violence against women.