One in 14 women worldwide sexually assaulted by non-partners: Study

Nearly one out of 14 women globally above the age of 15 have been sexually assaulted by someone other than their partner.

The Lancet study, which was conducted by researchers at the South African Medical Research Council, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the World Health Organization, made the revelation. They looked at 77 studies that collected data from 56 different countries between 1998 and 2011.

According to CBS News, Professor Naeemah Abrahams from the South African Medical Research Council in Cape Town said they found that sexual violence is a common experience for women worldwide. The study found that the highest rates of sexual violence by a non-partner were reported in sub-Saharan central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo at 21%, followed by sub-Saharan southern Africa - Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe at 17.4% and then Australasia - New Zealand and Australia at 16.4%.

It added that women in South Asian countries such as India and Bangladesh were at 3.3 percent, North Africa/ Middle East in Turkey was at 4.5% and east Asia and southern Latin America - Hong Kong and Uruguay, Argentina tied at 5.8% had the lowest rates of sexual violence from a non-partner, the report added.