An Epidemiological study of Acid Burn Incidents in Pakistan: Causes, Consequences and Prevention Strategies (Published)
According to Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), there are about 200 acid attacks every year in Pakistan, and there have been more incidents reported this year than last (Ahmad, S. 2022). Murder is regarded better than throwing acid (Mihaela B. I. 2015). Unfortunately, Pakistan is becoming more and more popular for hurling acid. A woman in Lahore was recently beaten with acid after rejecting a marriage proposal (Ashraf, S. 2017). South Punjab, a region known for its agriculture and as the “cotton belt,” is where more than half of all acid-related crimes occur. This region has historically been plagued by low socioeconomic indicators, and it is also where acid is easily accessible in local markets and frequently used to clean cotton. According to an unbiased study, 9,340 people in Pakistan were victims of acid attacks between 1994 and 2018 (Wong, Y. 2021). Unless the government takes strong action to put an end to the evildoer, such attacks will continue to occur in the nation. According to the Acid Survivors Trust International, 80% of acid attack victims are women, putting acid attacks in the category of gender-based violence (J. G. 2019). Although attackers also target men, the problem primarily impacts women and is more likely to happen in societies where there is a strong gender division (Duggan, M. 2020). This way of life supports gender inequality and highlights the vulnerable status of women in Pakistani society, who frequently face attacks not just from outsiders but even from their own spouses and relatives.
Keywords: Causes, Consequences, Pakistan, acid burn, epidemiological study, incidents, prevention strategies