Gender Based Violence and Reproductive Health of Indigenous Women in Mexico

Abstract

Millions of girls and women suffer from violence and its consequences because of their sex and their unequal status in society. Gender-based violence is a serious violation of women’s human rights. Yet little attention has been paid to the serious health consequences of abuse and the health needs of abused women and girls. Women who have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological violence suffer a range of reproductive health problems, often in silence. They have also poorer physical and mental health, suffer more injuries, and use more medical resources than non-abused women. Thus, in this paper we have tried to explore how gender-based violence impact on the reproductive health of indigenous women in Mexico. For this study, we have interviewed 250 indigenous women in Monterrey Metropolitan Region of Mexico.