This indicator measures changes in the levels of recent intimate partner violence against women and girls within marriage or marriage-like relationships. Intimate partner violence is the commonest form of violence against women, affecting an estimated 1 in 4 women aged 15–49 years at some point in their lives. The indicator is limited to physical and/or sexual violence due to the lack of internationally comparable measures and definitions of psychological violence by intimate partners.
Data related to this indicator were provided by 28 of 35 countries (80%) in the Region by 2018, when the prevalence ranged from 3% to 18%. Updated estimates published at the end of 2025 covered 29 countries and territories. There was a slight increase above the baseline value from 7% to 7.3%, whereas the target was for there to be no increase. The target was therefore not reached as there was an increase; however, the increase by 3 percentage points is considered to be minimal. Therefore, the indicator is on the right track.
Despite this, the lack of progress in reducing the prevalence of intimate partner violence is associated with multiple intersecting situations in the Region, including natural disasters, displacement and migration, climate change, growing disparities, and differing political priorities, in addition to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems. Data comparability and the frequency of surveys remain major constraints.
In this context, the Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against Women 2015–2025 created an important platform for countries to accelerate evidence-based action to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, strengthen collaboration between countries, and foster regional dialogue.
Policies and interventions to prevent violence against women and girls vary in their level of maturity across countries. Nevertheless, considerable progress has been made across the Region: 83% of countries have a multisectoral plan to address violence, 69% include violence against women as a strategic issue in their national health policies, and 63% have a health system protocol that guides the response to survivors of violence. Further efforts under the PAHO Strategic Plan 2026–2031 are needed to translate these policies into practice, in particular to strengthen access to and improve the quality of health services available to survivors.
Advocate for prevention and response to violence against women to be incorporated in health policies, protocols, and budgets.
Improve training for health workers, especially those working in primary and urgent care, to improve early detection of violence and accelerate the provision of first-line support.
Strengthen quality of care and support offered to survivors of violence and improve coordination across all essential services to provide comprehensive and integrated support to survivors and their families.
Strengthen multisectoral collaboration at regional, national, and local levels to prevent all forms of violence in alignment with the evidence base, including the RESPECT framework.
Increase availability of information to strengthen understanding and awareness of the scale and consequences of violence, and effective prevention strategies; empower women and girls; and address social norms that perpetuate violence in relationships, in collaboration with communities.