As if the ongoing coronavirus deadly outbreak wasn’t enough, United Nations Population Fund has predicted yet another huge problem earlier this week. With most population across the world under global lockdown right now, UNFPA has expressed a shocking possibility of a staggering number of seven million unwanted pregnancies, in case the national lockdown lasts for another six months.
“The first is through disruptions in programmes to prevent violence and provide services, care and support to survivors. The second is through increased total acts of violence as lockdown keep women inside with their abusers and households endure stressors like economic turmoil.”
The study went on to suggest that for every three months the lockdown continues, 15 million extra cases of gender-based violence is predicted.
The data also notes that as many as 47 million women in more than 114 low and middle-income countries globally lie at massive risk of sexual abuse and unwanted pregnancies during the nationwide lockdown.
Dr Natalia Kanem, UN Population Fund’s Executive Director had shared in a recent media statement that “This new data shows the catastrophic impact that COVID-19 could soon have on women and girls globally. The pandemic is deepening inequalities, and millions more women and girls now risk losing the ability to plan their families and protect their bodies and their health.”
The UN study further adds that the covid-19 epidemic could cause around 7 million unintended pregnancies.