Impact of armed conflict on the health of women and girls

Gac Sanit. 2026 Jul 6;40:102588. doi: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2026.102588. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sexual violence in armed conflict contexts constitutes a serious violation of human rights and a persistent challenge for global public health. This article analyzes the differentiated impacts on the physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health of women and girls, from a public health perspective with a gender approach. Through a narrative review of academic literature, institutional reports, and international legal frameworks, two main mechanisms of harm were identified: 1) the use of gender-based violence as a war tactic, and 2) the disruption of essential health and social protection services. The analysis reveals long-term psychosocial consequences, increased maternal morbidity and mortality, neglect of menstrual health, and the structural impact of forced displacement and the feminization of poverty. Institutional barriers are examined, such as the lack of disaggregated data, legal impunity, and the exclusion of women from decision-making spaces. Positive experiences in transitional justice mechanisms and women-led initiatives are also highlighted, offering effective pathways for prevention, care, and reparation. The article offers public policy recommendations for humanitarian actors and health systems: comprehensive implementation of sexual and reproductive health services in emergencies, gender-sensitive mental health support, information systems with an intersectional perspective, and active participation of women in all phases of post-conflict response and reconstruction.

PMID:42407304 | DOI:10.1016/j.gaceta.2026.102588