Violence against women: the hidden health burden.

Violence against women is a major health problem around the world. It often goes unnoticed and undocumented partly due to its taboo nature. A number of recent studies have explored the extent and patterns as well as the health consequence of violence in different cultures. The studies cited indicate that violence against women is widespread and an important cause of morbidity and mortality among women. Injuries due to violence have only recently been recognized as an important public health problem. More research is needed to improve our understanding of gender violence, and to design better interventions.