Experts Highlight Impact of Gender-Based Violence on Maternal Health

Gender-based violence (GBV) significantly undermines maternal health, increasing risks of maternal mortality and morbidity, according to experts from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Pakistan (SOGP). At a July 2025 press conference in Karachi, they condemned the rising violence against women, particularly female healthcare providers, and called for justice and systemic reform. This article examines the devastating effects of GBV on maternal and newborn health, drawing on recent data and expert insights.

SOGP President Dr. Rubina Suhail, speaking at the Karachi event, emphasized that GBV, including rape, domestic violence, and honour killings, directly contributes to poor maternal outcomes. “These crimes increase maternal mortality and morbidity rates,” she stated, as reported by Dawn, citing a 2024 Sustainable Social Development Organisation report that documented 32,617 GBV cases nationwide, including 5,339 rapes and 547 honour killings. Punjab led with 26,753 cases, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 3,397, Sindh with 1,781, and Balochistan with 398, where no convictions were reported for 185 kidnappings. Dr. Suhail highlighted how such violence, rooted in a culture of impunity, disrupts access to prenatal care and exacerbates complications like high blood pressure and premature births.

The impact of GBV extends beyond physical harm, with psychological trauma leading to depression, anxiety, and even suicide among pregnant women, according to SOGP Secretary General Dr. Shabeen Naz Masood. She noted frequent attacks on female healthcare providers, which further strain Pakistan’s already fragile maternal health system. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports this, stating that GBV causes unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and miscarriages, all of which elevate maternal risks. In Pakistan, where an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 maternal deaths occur annually, addressing GBV is critical to meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at reducing maternal mortality to under 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

The experts’ call for justice underscores the need for stronger legal enforcement and cultural shifts to protect women. As GBV continues to threaten maternal and newborn health, Pakistan faces an urgent challenge to prioritize accountability and safety to secure better futures for mothers and their children.