A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that as many as two out of three women in some parts of the world have suffered domestic violence. The study indicates that many women suffer significant health problems because of violent partners, but that few are prepared to report domestic violence to the authorities. Meiko Yoshihama, who is leading the WHO study in Japan, says these women are generally less healthy than those who have not been attacked, and are more likely to smoke, to consume larger amounts of alcohol and have psychosomatic symptoms. (BBC News Online 20/05/02)
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