Violence does not always leave visible marks. It can even deprive someone of access to healthcare.For some survivors, abuse can affect their ability to seek and receive the medical care they need.
This can manifest in many ways:
- Preventing them from getting to medical appointments.
- Controlling their movements.
- Withholding money.
- Blocking access to medication.
- Controlling when or whether they are able to seek medical care.
This control is not always confined to the home; it can follow survivors even into healthcare settings.
📊 The data reveal a concerning disparity:
- 66.3% of women who reported experiencing violence from a partner had undergone a mammogram within the previous two years.
- The corresponding figure for women who did not report partner violence was 76.9%.
Why does this matter?
For a survivor of abuse, accessing healthcare may not be as simple as just booking an appointment.
There may be fear.
There may be control.
There may be financial barriers or difficulties in moving around.
There may be someone else who makes decisions regarding an individual’s body, health and ability to seek help.
Access to healthcare matters. Recognizing these barriers is an important step toward creating services and social structures that provide meaningful support to individuals experiencing abuse.
However, domestic violence cannot be examined in isolation from the social perceptions, gender stereotypes and power dynamics that shape human relationships.
That is why we need to speak openly about violence against women, sexism and the attitudes that normalize control and inequality.
💬 “Fan culture, football and violence against women”
We will explore these issues in a workshop organized by the organization RESET and the Research Department of Omonia 29th May, seeking ways to challenge stereotypes and contribute to a culture of equality, respect, and solidarity.
📅 Friday, October 30, 2026
🕖 19:00
📍 Strovolos Cultural Centre – Nikolaos Mountis Hall
Preventing violence also begins by challenging the perceptions that allow control to be presented as a right.
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5842092/
Healthcare Access and Cancer Screening among Victims of Intimate Partner Violence, Journal of womens health 2017
