Blog #2: Sexual Assault on Women and the Affect on Health

Summary: Sexual assault is an increasing issue and one out of every fourteen women in the world has been a victim. Those who live in central sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia,  New Zealand as well as Australia are facing an endemic in relation to sexual assault. The news has heightened the public's awareness due to recent rapes that have occurred in India and South Africa with women. In North America 13% of women have reported being raped and is ranked the 6th highest out of 21 geographic regions. However, this region may have a more accepting as well as comfortable environment to be able to report rapes and sexual assault than others. The estimated economic cost in North America in relation to sexual assault ranges from $87,000 to $240,776 per rape and includes medical costs, law enforcement, and lost productivity. Sexual assault affects women not only physically but mentally as well such as depression, chronic pain, anxiety, post traumatic stress, and eating disorders.

Analysis: Sexual Assault greatly affects women's health with not only the physical wounds but as well as mentally. Women who have been assaulted sexually often show signs of depression as well as anxiety, eating disorders and post traumatic stress syndrome. North America has a larger amount of reported sexual assaults than most geographic regions, but it is important to take into account how other regions may not have such an accepting view of women reporting men to their respective law enforcement agencies. After sexual assault with no mental therapy process may quickly become despondent as well as unproductive and unable to work which in turn greatly affects society and the economy. Unfortunately, women in sexually assaulted instances often do not report their assault which in turn causes reports to not be as accurate as possible. With such a world wide problem and the health risks that are associated with these assaults, diminishing the occurrences of them would greatly decrease  the depression rates as well as help women's mental health statistics to be positive in their favor instead of negative.

Sources:
 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/22/obama-sexual-assault-report-white-house-council-on-women-and-girls/4776949/

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/1-14-women-reports-non-partner-sexual-assault-worldwide-n27876

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/02/12/women-face-high-sexual-assault-rates-globally/