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The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID-19 on domestic violence
Abstract
COVID‐19 (the new strain of coronavirus) has been declared a global pandemic. Measures announced over recent weeks to tackle it have seen people’s day‐to‐day life drastically altered. These changes are essential to beat coronavirus and protect health systems (UK Home Office 2020). However, there are unintended, negative consequences. As the virus continues to spread across the world, it brings with it multiple new stresses, including physical and psychological health risks, isolation and loneliness, the closure of many schools and businesses, economic vulnerability and job losses. Through all of that, children (and their mothers) are particularly vulnerable (End Violence against Children, 2020) to the risk of domestic violence. Domestic violence refers to a range of violations that happen within a domestic space. It is a broad term that encompasses intimate partner violence (IPV), a form of abuse that is perpetrated by a current or ex‐partner.
... These measures have included selective quarantines, stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, and the closure of kindergartens, schools, and all nonessential services and businesses [6,8]. Although these measures can be effective in containing the spread of disease, they also can lead to unintended, negative consequences [9]. Several new stressors, including physical and mental health risks as well as social and economic impacts, could result [1,9]. ...
... Although these measures can be effective in containing the spread of disease, they also can lead to unintended, negative consequences [9]. Several new stressors, including physical and mental health risks as well as social and economic impacts, could result [1,9]. There is evidence that quarantine, in particular, can lead to negative psychological outcomes such as posttraumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger [10]. ...
... Previous natural disasters and health crises have been associated with an increase in violence both inside and outside the home [11]. Similar to social isolation during previous epidemics and pandemics, the psychological effects of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic in particular may increase the risk and severity of domestic violence [9,[12][13][14][15][16]. Increases in domestic violence have been reported in the context of natural disasters, such as after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami [17], Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005 [18], and the 2009 "Black Saturday" bush res in Australia [13]. ...
Background:
The global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented many unique challenges to health systems. The hidden impact of COVID-19 and its associated lockdown have been an increased prevalence of domestic violence.
Objective:
To increase our understanding of the connection between COVID-19 containment measures, domestic violence, and mental health in Germany, we conducted an online self-assessment survey of 98 domestic violence victims and 276 controls. All participants answered questions concerning domestic violence, emotional regulation skills, limitations due to and acceptance of containment measures, and quality of their contact experiences.
Results:
There was no significant effect of "gender" x "domestic violence." Among victims of domestic violence, the number of women was considerably higher than the number of men. In addition, the factors "negative contact quality," "emotional regulation," and "resilience" differed significantly between the victims of domestic violence and the control group.
Conclusions:
The COVID-19 outbreak and associated containment and quarantine measures resulted in a "hidden pandemic" of domestic violence for which prevention programs and early victim assistance through the expansion of digital technologies are urgently needed. Prospective studies should expand empirical data to focus on the long-term psychological effects of domestic violence and biomarkers that can serve as warning signs of stress-related disorders.
... Exacerbated tension [24] and parental stress [26] also likely increased the risk of family violence. Increases in demand for services left providers and advocates struggling to balance their concerns for personal safety with their obligation to provide accommodation, advocacy, and support without proper PPE or paid time off [27]. Many domestic violence programs did not have adequate PPE to provide services safely or the flexibility in funding to acquire cleaning supplies, masks, or gloves for staff or survivors or to provide hazard pay for those required to work on site, such as shelter staff [28]. ...
... Further, services must accommodate the control measures implemented to reduce the emergency's overall impact. This means ensuring domestic violence service providers and advocates can access proper PPE, be paid commensurately for their increased labor, and have support systems within, and outside of, their agencies that can support their mental and physical well-being [27]. Advocates have found new solutions in response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; lessons learned must be applied to keep up with expected increased demand for services. ...
Background
Prior to the availability of pharmaceutical control measures, non-pharmaceutical control measures, including travel restrictions, physical distancing, isolation and quarantine, closure of schools and workplaces, and the use of personal protective equipment were the only tools available to public health authorities to control the spread of COVID-19. The implementation of these non-pharmaceutical control measures had unintended impacts on the ability of state and territorial domestic violence coalitions to provide services to victims.
Methods
A semi-structured interview guide to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted service provision and advocacy generally, and how COVID-19 control measures specifically, created barriers to services and advocacy, was developed, pilot tested, and revised based on feedback. Interviews with state and territorial domestic violence coalition executive directors were conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. Transcripts were inductively and deductively coded using both hand-coding and qualitative software.
Results
Forty-five percent (25 of 56) of state and territorial domestic violence coalition executive directors representing all 8 National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) regions were interviewed. Five themes related to the use of non-pharmaceutical pandemic control measures with impacts on the provision of services and advocacy were identified.
Conclusions
The use of non-pharmaceutical control measures early in the COVID-19 pandemic had negative impacts on the health and safety of some vulnerable groups, including domestic violence victims. Organizations that provide services and advocacy to victims faced many unique challenges in carrying out their missions while adhering to required public health control measures. Policy and preparedness plan changes are needed to prevent unintended consequences of control measure implementation among vulnerable groups as well as to identify lessons learned that should be applied in future disasters and emergencies.
... However, the newspaper article did not specify whether these calls were between intimate partners or general family violence. Consistent with the above, the impact of COVID-19 on IPV or DV is seen through various relationships, including social, peer and family relationships, and colleagues 56 . ...
... Nationwide lockdown presented a significant increase in cases of DV 43 . Vulnerable individuals are at the mercy of their aggressors, and their coping mechanisms may not be as effective 43,56,74 . Also, national lockdown presented an environment where every minor matter within a household had the potential to trigger the male partners to be violent towards their spouse 75 . ...
COVID-19, first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, was declared a global pandemic by the WHO following the rapid spread of cases worldwide. The pandemic resulted in governments enforcing nationwide lockdowns, halting economic activities except for essential services. This review aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence (GBV) among women in South Africa. The literature search for this review was limited to African peer-reviewed articles and studies published in English between March 2020 and July 2021. EBSCOhost (PubMed, EBSCOhost, APA PsycArticles, APA PsychINFO, Academic Search Ultimate, Africa-Wide Information, Sociology Source Ultimate, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL with full text, and MEDLINE) electronic database platforms and the Google Scholar search engine and bibliographies of identified sources were used to identify studies that are included in the review. 82 studies were identified for this review and 18 were included in the synthesis. Multiple factors contributed to the surge in GBV cases in South Africa, including alcohol availability and consumption, job losses, financial dependence, psychological distress, and emotional imbalances. Effective intervention strategies are proposed, calling for more research to better understand women's experiences of GBV during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[7]: 59-71). Résumé Le COVID-19, détecté pour la première fois à Wuhan, en Chine, en décembre 2019, a été déclaré pandémie mondiale par l'OMS suite à la propagation rapide des cas dans le monde. La pandémie a conduit les gouvernements à imposer des confinements à l'échelle nationale, interrompant les activités économiques, à l'exception des services essentiels. La recherche documentaire a été limitée aux articles africains évalués par des pairs et aux études publiées en anglais entre mars 2020 et juillet 2021. EBSCOhost (PubMed, EBSCOhost, APA PsycArticles, APA PsychINFO, Academic Search Ultimate, Africa-Wide Information, Sociology Source Ultimate, CAB Abstracts , CINAHL avec texte intégral et MEDLINE), les plateformes de bases de données électroniques et le moteur de recherche Google Scholar et les bibliographies des sources identifiées ont été utilisés pour identifier les études incluses dans cette revue. 82 études ont été identifiées pour cette revue et 18 ont été incluses dans la synthèse. Plusieurs facteurs ont contribué à l'augmentation des cas de VBG en Afrique du Sud, notamment la disponibilité et la consommation d'alcool, les pertes d'emploi, la dépendance financière, la détresse psychologique et les déséquilibres émotionnels. Des stratégies d'intervention efficaces sont proposées, appelant à davantage de recherches pour mieux comprendre les expériences des femmes en matière de VBG pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[7]: 59-71).
... This finding is in line with other studies that show how the COVID-19 lockdown increases levels of stress and tensions when there was already abuse and violence against women [15,16,27,28]. Family violence increases after large-scale disasters and at times when families spend more time together, such as holidays [29]. In these contexts, power dynamics occur that can be distorted and subverted by abusers, often without the scrutiny of anyone outside the couple or family unit. ...
... In these contexts, power dynamics occur that can be distorted and subverted by abusers, often without the scrutiny of anyone outside the couple or family unit. So staying at home has had important consequences, both for those who already had a violent family context (physical, psychological and sexual abuse), or for those who live with an abusive or controlling father or partner [29]. ...
There is an increasing awareness of the magnitude of different forms of sexual violence (SV), especially in relation to youth. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a negative impact on different forms of violence against women. In this study, we aim to analyse SV in the COVID-19 lockdown among young people and SV-related services from the perspective of professionals and young people from different sectors in Spain with responsibilities in attending SV and other forms of violence against women-related. A qualitative content analysis was performed on semi-structured interviews with 23 women and men aged 18 to 24 and 15 professionals working with youth and/or in violence against women or sexual violence related services. The sample was from northern, eastern and central regions of Spain. According to the professionals' experience, the COVID-19 lockdown lessened their ability to work on violence prevention. Both informants perceived that sexual violence had decreased in public spaces whereas it increased in digital ones and noticed the silence surrounding violent situations had deepened. However, they differed regarding its impact on sexual violence within intimate partners, mainly due to the lack of awareness of this problem among young men. In regard to violence against women and sexual violence, our results highlight the need to develop protocols for action and improve resource accessibility in crisis contexts.
... Neuobičajeno dugo vreme koje su članovi porodice širom planete provodili jedni sa drugima, ne po sopstvenom izboru nego prinudom nametnutih mera zatvaranja radi sprečavanja širenja zaraze, pokrenulo je postojeće faktore rizika za nasilje u porodici, stvorilo je nove oblike nasilja (Xue i dr., 2020: 2), intenziviralo učestalost nasilja a postojeće nasilje je uvelo u teže oblike (Ertan i dr., 2020: 2), i dovelo do novih oblika viktimizacije (Nikolić-Ristanović, 2021: 163-166). Nasilje u porodici, koje se najčešće i dešava iza zatvorenih vrata, usled sprovedenih mera i u bukvalnom smislu ostaje "zatvoreno" unutar porodice (Bradbury-Jones, Isham, 2020: 2047. Ove okolnosti nasilnicima daju još veću slobodu da nasilje vrše bez razmišljanja o posledicama, a žrtvama otežavaju i onemogućavaju da prijave nasilje zbog stalnog prisustva nasilnika. ...
... Dublja povezanost statističkih brojeva prijavljenog nasilja u porodici u posmatranom periodu ukazuje da je vreme intenzivne COVID-19 krize oživelo "staro" nasilje u porodici, ali i stvorilo "novo" nasilje i nove nasilnike, a žrtvama značajno otežalo prijavljivanje nasilja, na šta ukazuju i druga istraživanja (Bradbury-Jones, Isham, 2020: 2047. Stoga je teško poverovati da zabeležen pad u prijavama nasilja u porodici u Srbiji tokom vanrednog stanja usled pandemije virusa COVID-19 odražava realnu sliku stanja ove vrste nasilja u tom periodu. ...
The subject of the paper is domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The paper presents the results of research on the state of reported domestic
violence during the COVID-19 pandemic in the territory of the Kragujevac
Police Department, aiming to gain a deeper insight into the mechanisms of
victimization by domestic violence during the pandemic. The results of the
research indicate new patterns of victimization, new violence and new
categories of perpetrators, as well as an increase in the volume of
recurring violence in the family, which is why the question can be raised
whether the downward trend of reported violence in the critical period
reflects the real state of this type of violence during the pandemic. It can
be reasonably assumed that during the pandemic, due to social isolation and
the constant presence of abusers, as well as due to the domestic
underdevelopment of special mechanisms for reporting violence by calling for
help, violence in the family in domestic conditions at the time of the
COVID-19 pandemic to a greater extent remained ‘locked’ within families.
... There is some evidence that restrictions associated with lockdowns may have contributed to increased nonaccidental injury, domestic violence, and self-harm related to deteriorating mental health [4][5][6]. Internationally, there is also evidence that the diversion of healthcare resources to treating patients with COVID-19, particularly intensive care capacity, may have led to worse outcomes for patients presenting with major trauma [7]. ...
... Only 4% of deaths due to suicide occur within hospital [22], which may mean that we have underestimated the burden of the most serious injuries related to selfharm associated with the lockdown period. Misclassification of injuries related to domestic violence as other types of interpersonal violence, along with the lower severity of many of these injuries, means that our study may not have been sensitive enough to identify the increases in domestic violence associated with COVID restrictions observed elsewhere [6]. Only a small number of cases of paediatric nonaccidental injuries meet the TARN inclusion criteria, and low numbers make it difficult to make any conclusions about the impact of lockdown measures. ...
Background:
Single-centre studies suggest that successive Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related "lockdown" restrictions in England may have led to significant changes in the characteristics of major trauma patients. There is also evidence from other countries that diversion of intensive care capacity and other healthcare resources to treating patients with COVID-19 may have impacted on outcomes for major trauma patients. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number, characteristics, care pathways, and outcomes of major trauma patients presenting to hospitals in England.
Methods and findings:
We completed an observational cohort study and interrupted time series analysis including all patients eligible for inclusion in England in the national clinical audit for major trauma presenting between 1 January 2017 and 31 of August 2021 (354,202 patients). Demographic characteristics (age, sex, physiology, and injury severity) and clinical pathways of major trauma patients in the first lockdown (17,510 patients) and second lockdown (38,262 patients) were compared to pre-COVID-19 periods in 2018 to 2019 (comparator period 1: 22,243 patients; comparator period 2: 18,099 patients). Discontinuities in trends for weekly estimated excess survival rate were estimated when lockdown measures were introduced using segmented linear regression. The first lockdown had a larger associated reduction in numbers of major trauma patients (-4,733 (21%)) compared to the pre-COVID period than the second lockdown (-2,754 (6.7%)). The largest reductions observed were in numbers of people injured in road traffic collisions excepting cyclists where numbers increased. During the second lockdown, there were increases in the numbers of people injured aged 65 and over (665 (3%)) and 85 and over (828 (9.3%)). In the second week of March 2020, there was a reduction in level of major trauma excess survival rate (-1.71%; 95% CI: -2.76% to -0.66%) associated with the first lockdown. This was followed by a weekly trend of improving survival until the lifting of restrictions in July 2020 (0.25; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.35). Limitations include eligibility criteria for inclusion to the audit and COVID status of patients not being recorded.
Conclusions:
This national evaluation of the impact of COVID on major trauma presentations to English hospitals has observed important public health findings: The large reduction in overall numbers injured has been primarily driven by reductions in road traffic collisions, while numbers of older people injured at home increased over the second lockdown. Future research is needed to better understand the initial reduction in likelihood of survival after major trauma observed with the implementation of the first lockdown.
... The problem of sexual violence is a societal one that requires every stakeholder to be involved in combatting it. 6 Among others, it should be observed that sexual violence is an outright violation of the constitutional rights of women and children, which is protected by the constitution (Act no. 108 of 1996) and Bill of Rights. ...
Background: The South African government implemented lockdown restrictions in order to prevent the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Aim: This study explored the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on sexual violence in the Eastern Cape province through the lens of healthcare workers’ (HCWs) experiences.
Setting: A Thuthuzela care centre in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.
Methods: This qualitative study brings together the findings from thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted among 11 purposively selected HCWs in May 2022.
Results: Overall, three themes emerged from the study: the effects of COVID-19 on sexual violence, profile of the survivors and recommendations for combating sexual violence in the region. Most respondents believed that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in the incidence of sexual violence, although all acknowledged that movement restrictions affected reporting. The participants treated mostly black women and children’s survivors, who experienced physical injuries simultaneously. The respondents’ narratives revealed that educational campaigns targeting boys and men could reduce sexual violence in the region. In addition, it was recommended that stricter laws and harsher penalties would serve as deterrents for perpetrators of sexual violence in the country.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown restrictions exposed the vulnerabilities of black women and children to sexual violence in the study setting. Educational programmes aimed at re-orientating boys and men in both rural and urban communities should be implemented.
Contributions: This study provides an insight into the perceived effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual violence in the Amathole district and South Africa.
... Many scientists expressed their concerns regarding the impact of restriction and quarantine measures on interpersonal violence, especially against children or intimate partners (intimate partner violence (IPV)) [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Furthermore, social distancing and prolonged stay-at-home orders were thought to lead to negative psychological effects (e.g., anxiety, anger, depression, substance use, fear, suicidality, and sleeping disorders) [12][13][14][15]. ...
Many scientists expressed their concerns regarding the impact of COVID-19-related quarantine measures on interpersonal violence, mainly concerning children and intimate partners, as well as other negative psychological effects. During early 2020, free circulation in Greece was prohibited for 42 days, up until May 4th. The aim of our study was to investigate characteristics of bodily harm allegation cases referred to the, during the first month succeeding free circulation re-establishment in the broader Attica region. We also aimed to detect any possible differences regarding bodily harm allegations by comparing the corresponding time period of 2019. A decrease in community violence (CV) allegations, especially youth violence incidents, was observed in 2020. Females' victimization, as well as allegations against strangers, were also decreased. No differences were observed concerning the injury mechanism. Victims of 2020 filed the allegations faster and, thus, were examined almost one day earlier than their 2019 counterparts. During lockdown, domestic violence (DV) hotline reporting was significantly increased, but paradoxically DV cases referred to our Department were decreased. In Greece, the legislators did not foresee any specific exemption from circulation restriction for DV victims attempting to escape abuse. Our results revealed a small, but notable, impact on non-fatal interpersonal violence.
... And due to the increase in the rates of violence against the family in recent years, whether globally or in Jordanian society, as the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic was a global epidemic phenomenon that contributed to the increase in violence and aggressive practices, domestic violence is defined as: "Any physical, psychological, or sexual assault or abuse by a family member, relatives, or workers within its scope, towards another individual, such as the wife, children, the elderly, and servants in particular, this includes a threat to their life, their physical, mental, psychological and social health, their money and their honor" (Al-Yousef, 2005). And that the form of domestic violence at the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020 appeared in a new way as a result of the emergence of the Covid-2019 virus, which spread throughout the world and across continents, and it quickly spread to the World Health Organization declaring it a pandemic that must be addressed, and this resulted in a comprehensive ban represented in the closure of shops, government and private institutions, schools and universities, banning gathering, resulting in economic, social and psychological disturbances and pressures; Because of the disruption of all aspects of life in all countries of the world and the emergence of feelings of frustration and increased tension due to the circumstances experienced by the family, as the presence of family members inside the home for long periods may strain family relationships and increase psychological pressure between them, and this may turn into violence and psychological and social pressures between them for fear of infection or because of unfamiliar lifestyles caused by the Covid-2019 virus (Bradbury & Isham, 2020). Despite the lack of studies that dealt with the relationship of disasters, crises and diseases to domestic violence, there are some researchers, such as (Wagers, 2020), he emphasized that the psychological structures of individuals are affected by times of crises and disasters, and remain firmly in their minds for a long time, causing them a state of confusion and trauma. ...
The study aimed to identify the impact of the corona pandemic on domestic violence in Jordanian society from the point of view of the husbands, the study relied on the descriptive analytical approach and a questionnaire was used to collect data and information, which included two dimensions, the first is the level of violence directed by the husband towards the wife, and the second dimension the level of violence directed by the wife towards the husband, in addition to the study of some social variables related to the study, the study sample consisted of (171) in Irbid Governorate in Jordan, The results of the study concluded that the relationship of domestic violence during the Corona pandemic to the wife by the husband was of an average degree, at a rate of 2.42 from the general average as a whole. While the general average of violence directed by the wife towards the husband was (2.25) with a low degree, the results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (0.05≥α) for the estimates of the study sample members for each of the sex, educational level, monthly income and family members. Journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net How to reference using ASWNet style: AL-Hussainat, M. M. (2023). The impact of the corona virus disease (COVID-19) on domestic violence in Jordanian society from the point of view of husbands African Journal of Social Work, 13(1), 39-47. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i1.5
... How to respondents declare in the survey that half of the family assistants repeatedly make contact with the client. That is, communication, as a quality of work with clients is referred to as "the core of work" [32]. In our studies, family assistants were asked about their professional satisfaction after the changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. ...
This article presents reflections on the consequence of remote work in social welfare professions in the case of family assistants. Web surveys focused on changes that came with the pandemic crisis in social welfare programs, such as family assistants. The article presents conclusions from the pilot web survey study among family assistants in June 2020 using the Survey Monkey online web survey questionnaire. Family assistants of Lower Silesia (part of the region in Poland) represent a category of professions in the social welfare system in Poland. They are employed in social welfare centers and work in the local community. The assistant has different tasks and eligibility than social workers. The family assistant knows the background of family problems, and, with them, he composes a working plan for better-functioning families. Personal contact with families before the epidemiological crisis has been replaced by remote work, replaced by changed tools, indirect contact with clients, and changing attitudes among workers. All changes have led to a transformation of daily work and organization in the workplace.
... The helplines in Spain received increasing calls of domestic abuse having range from 20% to 25%, in the United Kingdom and Cyprus the increasing calls were 40%. However, such types of calls increased in Brazil by 50% (Bradbury-Jones & Isham, 2020). In India during the crisis of COVID-19, crime related to women increased by 21%. ...
Domestic violence is a universal phenomenon across the world even in normal times. However, in times of health emergency, like COVID-19, the possibility of domestic violence increased as all the family members were compelled to stay at their homes. Besides, the crisis also brought other possible complications for the people. This study aims to know the impacts of COVID-19 in connection to domestic violence from a sociological point of view.
The study is designed as qualitative. The content analysis of research articles was made. The
data for this study is searched from the database of Google, Google Scholar, and Doaj.org.
The time period of this search is from the outbreak of COVID-19 till 30th April 2022. A total
of four themes were developed from the collected literature. The study revealed that during
the period of the coronavirus crisis, domestic violence increased by 70% throughout the
world. In Pakistan, as per an estimate, out of four women, one woman has faced some level
of sexual, physical, and emotional violence.
... The isolation that comes with lockdowns, the fear of contracting the virus, disruption of daily routine and activities, grief and trauma associated with the loss of loved ones, and limited social interactions has led to an increase in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression (Albuquerque & Santos, 2021;Goveas and Shear, 2020;Ritchie et al., 2020;Boserup et al., 2020;Bradbury-Jones & Isham, 2020;Campbell, 2020;Davide et al., 2020;Kofman & Garfin, 2020;Nicolini, 2020;Sediri et al., 2020;Volkow & Blanco, 2020). ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented burdens on individuals and communities around the world. The isolation, fear, and uncertainty caused by the virus has led to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The pandemic has also had a disproportionate impact on individuals and communities with low income and socioeconomic status.Objective
To shed light on the consequences of the pandemic on individuals from minorities and low-income areas, we investigate the main reasons that led patients who were referred to a social clinic of a private university in Rio de Janeiro to seek psychological treatment before (2019) and during the pandemic (2020 and 2021).Methods
We conducted a quanti-qualitative study with a lexical analysis that evaluated 549 complaint forms of patients seeking treatment in these two distinct periods. Our analyses included descending hierarchical analysis (DHA) and correspondence factor analysis (CFA).ResultsFamily dynamics and communication factors play a dominant role in the reason for seeking therapy and psychological treatment. Additionally, our study suggested an increase in anxiety and panic attacks among other mental health issues associated with grief and losses during the pandemic years.Conclusion
Based on these analyses, we can begin to identify a few changes in the main demand and redirection of complaints of patients during the period of COVID-19.
... While "stay at home" messages have helped to slow down community spreading of the virus, there also has been an increased risk of domestic violence which has been reported during these times. A number of researches have reported increased incidences and concerns around domestic violence [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] during the COVID-19 pandemic which suggest that this is a growing public health concern which needs urgent intervention. For instance, evidence from a recent study indicated that there was a 7.5% upsurge in service calls around domestic violence in 14 large United States cities during the 12 weeks following the introduction of social distancing 7 measures . ...
The emergence of COVID-19 has seen an unprecedented increase in social and economic disruption worldwide. While measures such as lockdowns and directives to stay at home have helped ease the impact of the pandemic, there has been an upsurge of reported cases of intimate partner and domestic violence. This problem has disproportionately affected already socially disadvantaged communities especially those in low and middle income countries. This paper discusses domestic violence in the context of COVID-19 and proffers recommendations on how to address this growing burden. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption in almost all facets of life globally. As the world grappled with the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, numerous public health interventions have been instituted across the globe and these include physical distancing, social isolation and stay at home measures among others. While “stay at home” messages have helped to slow down community spreading of the virus, there also has been an increased risk of domestic violence which has been reported during these times. A number of researches have reported increased incidences and concerns around domestic violence 1-9 during the COVID-19 pandemic which suggest that this is a growing public health concern which needs urgent intervention. For instance, evidence from a recent study indicated that there was a 7.5%
... This report highlights the difficulties social workers experienced while working from home. To provide a specific example, infectioncontrol 'stay-at-home' orders during COVID-19 that confined victims of domestic violence and abuse to the same households as their perpetrators resulted in increased incidence of violent and abusive behaviours (Bradbury-Jones and Isham, 2020;Kourti et al., 2023;Piquero et al., 2021). Professionals working in this field have identified multiple additional challenges to their work, including concerns about not having the capacity to meet the demand of the workload (Foster, 2020) and clients' compromised privacy and safety when services were conducted remotely using telephone or online platforms (Carrington et al., 2021). ...
Understanding pathways between social care workers’ Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related stress and poorer mental health outcomes can inform employers’ efforts to support the well-being of staff. The present study engaged 103 workers at an Irish Non-Government Organisation providing child and family support services. In the initial months following the cessation of pandemic restrictions in 2022, they completed an anonymous online survey that included questions about their experiences of COVID-19, their professional quality of life and their mental health. The aim was to explore the direct effect of COVID-related stress on workers’ mental health, and the indirect effect through the mediators of compassion satisfaction and the compassion fatigue components of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. The results indicated that greater levels of pandemic stress are significantly and directly related to both increased burnout and poorer mental health, and that burnout also partially mediates the relationship between pandemic stress and poorer mental health. This study adds to a growing body of work concerned to better understand the social care workers’ pandemic experiences, and results are discussed in terms of apprising employers of the need for timely and effective staff supports.
... The combined results of mental health disorder and domestic violence make individuals have distinctive challenges and compound needs. Studies have reported that women exposed to domestic violence are more than twice as likely to develop mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, substance abuse and suicide attempts (Bradbury-Jones and Isham, 2020;Soron et al., 2021). Studies in Europe have linked domestic violence among partners is associated with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women. ...
Purpose
Domestic violence is a universal social concern, and its implication on children’s mental health is a global health predicament. Although the aftereffect of domestic violence on the mental health of women is well researched, mental health disorders of children in terms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), general anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (AD) and mood disorder (MD) on account of domestic violence is rarely investigated. Hence, the purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of exposure to domestic violence on children’s mental health.
Design/methodology/approach
To examine the correlation between domestic violence and mental health among children, in a survey of public primary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria, the authors employed 664 pupils with simple random techniques. The Multidimensional Domestic Violence Scale assessed the participants’ exposure to domestic violence. The Child & Youth Mental Health General Screening Questionnaire was used to examine respondents’ mental health.
Findings
The results revealed a high incidence of domestic violence among children. It also showed a substantial correlation between domestic violence and the mental health of primary school pupils. Children living with domestic violence experience significantly increased rates of ADHD, ODD, AD, GAD and MD as forms of mental health disorders.
Research limitations/implications
Given the unpleasantness of this social issue affecting the well-being of children globally, it is imperative to engage in intervention and prevention packages that will assist the victims, perpetrators, parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders. Introducing counselling services into the primary school curriculum will assist victims and those at risk develop self-confidence that will enable them to report their violators. Although counselors do not diagnose, early detection of victims would assist in early intervention where counselors can use different techniques and approaches to help such victims to resolve all forms of cognitive distortions that can lead to mental health disorders. Counselling services can help in providing referral opportunities to victims or “at risk children,” rehabilitation and follow-up services for victims of domestic violence.
Practical implications
Government organizations should also reintroduce health-care services where clinical psychologists will be available in primary schools to provide psychological services to meet the needs of the victims.
Originality/value
Conclusively, the study presents evidence that children who witness domestic violence face a significant risk of developing mental health disorders. The findings highlight the potential harm that domestic violence can inflict on children’s mental well-being. Mental health conditions such as ADHD, CD, ODD, GAD, AD and MD are commonly observed in these children. It recommends establishing early intervention programs for children witnessing domestic violence in schools and communities and programs to detect and address mental health issues promptly.
... Families where the interpersonal relationship is problematic being confined together in a same place may cause more turbulence. [24] Interpersonal conflicts, a difference of opinion, personality issues, lack of understanding and respect are some common reasons which may eventually lead to a mental breakdown during this difficult time. So, ensuring a good family environment during a lockdown period is an important factor to consider. ...
This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
... However, this significant increase in calls was not recorded in 2020. Further studies are needed to address if the different types of restrictive measures adopted in 2021 may have favored an increase in requests for help, probably due to the lesser surveillance of the aggressors, who had greater freedom [57] and less probability of limiting victims' access to phones or the Internet [58]. ...
Objectives:
To help to tackle gender-based violence against women in the aftermath of COVID-19 or other potential crisis situations, as recommended by the European Institute for Gender Equality, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between calls to the National Anti-violence Number (NAN) and the socio-sanitary pandemic factors during 2021, a period in which the scenario changed due to containment measures that gradually allowed women to emerge from the condition of isolation. In addition, the present work aims to identify significant changes in the number of calls to NAN during the progression of the pandemic in 2021.
Methods:
Using Italian Civil Protection Department data on the socio-sanitary pandemic factors (defined by daily number of cases, swabs, deaths, hospitalizations, dismissions, intensive care unit hospitalizations, people isolated at home, and quarantine after 15 and 30 days) and NAN data. Correlation analyses, a joinpoint regression analysis, and Granger causality tests were performed.
Results:
The number of calls correlated with the daily number of cases, swabs, deaths, hospitalizations, dismissions, intensive care unit hospitalizations, and quarantine after 15 and 30 days. The identified joinpoints showed significant changes in the number of daily anti-violence calls during the year. Furthermore, we found evidence of a significant causality between daily hospitalizations, daily home quarantined, daily dismissed patients, and calls to NAN.
Conclusions:
The results underline the influence of containment measures on the increased access to NAN, suggesting the need for a greater implementation of social and psychological support services in other potential crisis situations.
... One approach is to ask them if they feel safe in a fair and safe manner. However, it is critical that health professionals have the opportunity and motivation to listen to and respond to the commonly useful ways in which victims demonstrate that they are at risk of a dangerous condition [3]. For providing advice and counselling, the use of online technologies is necessary for the victims, who may not have access to these abilities. ...
... Negatívnejšiu rodičovskú náladu vo veľkej miere determinovali denné stresory, ako napríklad potravinová neistota, narušenie pracovných plánov, zhoršená kvalita spánku, ťažkosti s podporou vzdelávania dieťaťa. Až 74% respondentov uviedlo, že bolo náročné podporiť učenie dieťaťa v domácom prostredí.Znepokojujúcou správou je, že postpandemické štúdie zaznamenali nárast depresií, úzkostných prejavov, neurovývojových porúch, porúch príjmu potravy, obezity(Bradbury-Jones, C., Isham, L., 2020; Bornstein, M. H., 2020;Uhlíř, J., 2021;Lenkiewicz, W., 2022). Vynútená izolácia v domácom prostredí, zákaz športových činností, záujmových krúžkov, viedli k masívnemu nárastu úzkostí, osamelosti, zhoršeniu telesnej kondície, prejavom zúfalstva, depresie, k rezignácii, sebapoškodzovaniu a k suicidálnemu jednaniu (Bínová, Š, Havelka, T.,2021, Hunt, P. a kol., 2021, Górski M. a kol., 2022). ...
Zborník vedeckých príspevkov z medzinárodnej vedeckej konferencie pre odborníkov pedagogických vied, vied o človeku a učiteľstva konanej dňa 24. novembra 2022.
Vydala Žilinská univerzita v Žiline v EDIS-vydavateľstve UNIZA v roku 2023 v spolupráci so Slovenskou pedagogickou spoločnosťou SAV.
Editori: doc. PhDr. Zlatica Bakošová, PhD. Mgr. Jakub Švec, PhD.
Recenzentky: prof. PaedDr. Janka Duchovičová, PhD. prof. PaedDr. Lenka Pasternáková, PhD., MBA
Obálka: Mgr. Jakub Švec, PhD.
Jazyková úprava: autori príspevkov
... Introduction ISBN: 978-93-91248-77-2 51 A common non-communicable disease called diabetes mellitus is thought to impact 65.1 million people in India alone. In the modern world, diabetes and its complications are now a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. ...
Tenofovir is a widely used antiretroviral drug to treat HIV Infections. Although it is very effective in treating HIV it is associated with severe adverse effects upon chronic usage. In severe cases, this can lead to chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Early detection and management are necessary to prevent irreversible kidney damage. Regular monitoring of renal function, serum creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate has to be done in patients receiving Tenofovir. This case report helps in providing a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical features, and management of nephrotoxicity and is essential for healthcare providers who care for patients receiving tenofovir therapy.
... Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were lifestyle changes that potentially increased the risk of IPV, including social isolation, stay-at-home orders, substance use, mental health issues, and increased stress [7][8][9][10]. When examining data on police reports and calls related to domestic violence from March 2020 compared to March 2019, the rate of reports increased for many counties and cities, with some reports showing increases of 10-27% [11]. ...
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been speculated that the prevalence rates of IPV increased. This paper aims to understand how pandemic-specific distress was related to experiencing and perpetrating IPV. Using self-reported survey data from 371 individuals living in the United States, this study used multiple logistic regressions to examine how reports of distress related to working from home, working outside the home, isolation, stay-at-home orders, mask mandates, physical and mental health, finances, interpersonal relationships, taking care of children, and online learning for children, as well as reports of partner conflict regarding COVID-19, were associated with physical, psychological, and sexual IPV perpetration and victimization. Our results indicated that distress related to family relationships, taking care of children, and COVID-19 as a source of conflict were all associated with an increased risk of IPV victimization, while distress related to mask mandates and friendships was associated with a decreased risk. Distress related to physical health, family relationships, taking care of children, and COVID-19 being a source of conflict were associated with an increased risk of IPV perpetration, while distress related to mental health and friendships was associated with a decreased risk. Implications for researchers and clinicians are discussed.
... Therefore, the results showed that based on conflict tactics scale domestic violence increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to Covid-19 lock down. There had been a positive relationship between Covid-19 lock down and domestic violence (Usher et al., 2020;Davies & Batha, 2020;Kelly & Morgan, 2020;Kofman & Garfin, 2020;Piquero et al., 2020;Bradbury & Isham, 2020). Similar other studies also found a positive association between Covid-19 lock down and domestic violence. ...
This research study focuses on the impact of Covid-19 on domestic violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The target population of this research study was the number of local households of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The data was collected from the local households in six districts including Swat, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Peshawar and Nowshera. From six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 300 samples were collected. From each district 50 samples were collected including 25 females and 25 males. All the samples were randomly selected. The data was manually collected in the form of a pre-tested questionnaire. Domestic violence was measured by Conflict Tactics Scale. The results revealed that Covid-19 lock down was a painful situation that increased frustration among the people when coupled with economic uncertainty resulted in domestic violence. Factors that highly contributed to domestic violence during Covid-19 lock down included social isolation, frustration, stress and anxiety. The results did not support the null hypothesis; hence, the alternative hypothesis was accepted. From the findings it was identified that human stress caused by restrictions on social mobility and social engagements resulted in domestic violence and this factor was comparatively stronger.
... The pandemic has created a default context for families living at home under chronic economic uncertainty associated with high stress, anxiety, and irritation (Brooks et al., 2020). Staying at home with perpetrators during the pandemic may have exacerbated vulnerabilities in victims of violence (Anurudran et al., 2020;Bradbury-Jones and Isham, 2020;Piquero et al., 2021). Increased domestic violence and child abuse may be associated with social and physical distancing measures under which family members are confined to their homes without access to those who may notice the signs of violence and/or assistance necessary for victims to escape the violence (Leslie and Wilson, 2020). ...
Introduction
In 2020, the South Korean government introduced social distancing measures, varied by region, to address the pandemic. We captured variations in social distancing measures among regions in South Korea and investigated the association between the stringency of measures and the increased incidence of violence.
Methods
Incidence reports from calls to violence hotlines, including school and domestic violence and sexual harassment, from 2016 to 2021 were retrieved. The regional per capita incidence rates for each violence hotlines were calculated. Difference-in-difference design with fixed effects was used to elucidate different trends in the incidence rate of violence between regions with stringent social distancing measures and regions with looser measures.
Results
Social distancing measures led to a decreased incidence rate of school violence and an increased incidence rate of domestic violence and sexual harassment. Different trends in the incidence of violence were noted between regions with strict social distancing measures and regions with more lenient measures. Tightened measures caused surges in domestic violence and sexual harassment.
Conclusion
Social distancing measures have been an inevitable mitigation strategy against virus transmission throughout the pandemic. However, women residing in tightened social distancing measures, in particular urban areas, need more support against domestic violence.
... For examples, it was found that divorce reduced by 7% in Denmark (Fallesen, 2021), 27% in Japan (Komura & Ogawa, 2022), and 21.6%-36.4% in the United States (Manning & Payne, 2021). The lockdown or stay-at-home order may have constrained the preparation for divorce (Lebow, 2020), unintentionally and consequently putting people in abusive relationships more at risk (Bradbury-Jones & Isham, 2020). Although domestic violence may have a detrimental effect on marriage (Bowlus & Seitz, 2006), the interaction of between divorce and domestic violence is far more complex in different sociocultural contexts (Ajlan, 2022). ...
Background:
Data from some countries showed a worrisome increase in domestic violence but a paradoxical decrease in divorce during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the impact of the pandemic on domestic violence and divorce in Taiwan in 2020-2021.
Method:
Data for reported domestic violence and divorce by month and county/city (2017-2021) were from Taiwan government's registries. We used random-effects negative binomial regression to estimate the rate ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between the observed numbers of domestic violence cases and divorces in 2020-2021 and the expected numbers based on prepandemic trends (2017-2019). We calculated RRs for the two outbreak periods (First: January-May 2020; Second: May-July 2021) and the two postoutbreak periods (First: June 2020-April 2021; Second: August-December 2021) and each month in 2020-2021.
Results:
The number of overall domestic violence cases was greater than expected during the first COVID-19 outbreak-a 3% increase (95% CI [0.3%-6%])-and the two postoutbreak periods-a 9% increase ([6%-12%]) and a 12% increase ([8%-16%]), respectively. Intimate partner violence was the main contributor to the increases. The number of divorces was lower than expected throughout the pandemic (a 5%-24% decrease).
Conclusion:
Reported domestic violence cases were higher than expected during the pandemic, particularly during the postoutbreak periods when the outbreak control measures were relaxed and people's movement resumed. Tailored prevention and intervention measures may be needed to address the increased vulnerability to domestic violence and restricted access to support during the outbreaks. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
... Bradbury- Jones and Isham (2020) distinguish between domestic will and intimate partner violence. They say that domestic violence is a broad term that encompasses intimate partner violence, a form of abuse that is perpetrated by a current or ex-partner. ...
Prezentul volum conține lucrările elaborate în cadrul Conferinței ,,ASIGURAREA
EGALITĂȚII DE ȘANSE PRIN MANAGEMENT EDUCAȚIONAL ȘI SERVICII DE
ASISTENȚĂ PSIHOPEDAGOGICĂ ÎN CONTEXTUL DISTANȚĂRII SOCIALE”, Ediția a IV-a,
3-5 MARTIE 2022.
... A crisis can also produce indirect changes to the need for services. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a documented increase in intimate partner violence [21] and a risk of increased mental health concerns [22]. Both trusts acknowledged these increased risks in communications and guidelines provided to staff, but there were no data to track the incidence of domestic violence. ...
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in profound and far-reaching impacts on maternal and newborn care and outcomes. As part of the ASPIRE COVID-19 project, we describe processes and outcome measures relating to safe and personalised maternity care in England which we map against a pre-developed ASPIRE framework to establish the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for two UK trusts.
Methods
We undertook a mixed-methods system-wide case study using quantitative routinely collected data and qualitative data from two Trusts and their service users from 2019 to 2021 (start and completion dates varied by available data). We mapped findings to our prior ASPIRE conceptual framework that explains pathways for the impact of COVID-19 on safe and personalised care.
Results
The ASPIRE framework enabled us to develop a comprehensive, systems-level understanding of the impact of the pandemic on service delivery, user experience and staff wellbeing, and place it within the context of pre-existing challenges.
Maternity services experienced some impacts on core service coverage, though not on Trust level clinical health outcomes (with the possible exception of readmissions in one Trust). Both users and staff found some pandemic-driven changes challenging such as remote or reduced antenatal and community postnatal contacts, and restrictions on companionship. Other key changes included an increased need for mental health support, changes in the availability and uptake of home birth services and changes in induction procedures. Many emergency adaptations persisted at the end of data collection. Differences between the trusts indicate complex change pathways. Staff reported some removal of bureaucracy, which allowed greater flexibility.
During the first wave of COVID-19 staffing numbers increased, resolving some pre-pandemic shortages: however, by October 2021 they declined markedly. Trying to maintain the quality and availability of services had marked negative consequences for personnel. Timely routine clinical and staffing data were not always available and personalised care and user and staff experiences were poorly captured.
Conclusions
The COVID-19 crisis magnified pre-pandemic problems and in particular, poor staffing levels. Maintaining services took a significant toll on staff wellbeing. There is some evidence that these pressures are continuing. There was marked variation in Trust responses. Lack of accessible and timely data at Trust and national levels hampered rapid insights. The ASPIRE COVID-19 framework could be useful for modelling the impact of future crises on routine care.
... During the initial phase of the pandemic and with strict containment measures , there were strong fears of an increase in domestic violence [54,55], which are fears that have been verified in subsequent studies [56,57]. Certainly, the present study cannot dismiss the validity of these findings in health workers, but it seems unlikely that there is a simultaneous increase in family support and domestic violence. ...
Introduction
Anger is considered as one of the basic human emotions, constituting the affective component of aggression. In the first year of the pandemic, the intense pressure on healthcare workers resulted in the deterioration of their psychosocial problems.
Objective
The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between family support, anger, and aggression.
Methods
The present study included physicians and nurses who completed an online survey of Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 (DAR-5), a Brief Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ) and a Family Support Scale (FSS). Before completing the questionnaires, participants were asked to state their gender, years of work, age, and profession.
Results
Fifty-three men and 190 women participated in the study. Almost one-third of the participants had a positive score on the DAR-5 scale. Male participants displayed lower DAR-5 scores compared to women. Female participants displayed lower FSS scores compared to men, but higher scores when compared with earlier measures. Regression showed that 15.2% of the variance in BAQ scores can be explained by DAR-5 scores, with an additional 3.8% explained by FSS scores, while an additional 2.3% is explained by years of working experience. Mediation analysis highlighted the role of family support as a negative mediator in the DAR-5 and BAQ relationship.
Conclusion
During the first year of the pandemic, there was an increase in the sense of family support among female health workers. One-third of the participants displayed increased anger scores. Family support acts as a mediator by preventing anger derailing into aggression. In healthcare worker support programs, it seems necessary to entail a specific section on anger management.
The scope of Medical Technology (MT) is vast and
continually expanding. Medical Technology encompasses
a wide range of products, devices, and services that
contribute to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and
management of various medical conditions.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive problem in Zimbabwe, affecting women and girls. The types of GBV that are prevalent in Zimbabwe include sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and child marriage. The issue of evidence generation remains crucial in developing interventions that are tailor-made for GBV response. In an attempt to build pathways for the strengthening of GBV programming and to influence policy change, the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Africa Trust (SAT) Zimbabwe conducted a secondary data review of GBV cases recorded in 2018 and 2019 in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (Victim Friendly Unit) to understand the incidence of and the driving factors underlying GBV in Zimbabwe, including context-specific information with regard to sexual violence and an overview of perpetrator types. The study proffered recommendations that focus on the importance of improving GBV reporting and programming in Zimbabwe. The study establishes that the driving factors for physical violence include poverty, infidelity, and alcohol and drug abuse, while sexual violence is perpetrated by intimate partners and close relatives, among other driving factors.
An outbreak of a new coronavirus disease that causes respiratory tract infections and can be lethal in humans began in China in December 2019. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the current outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory illness caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a pandemic (Coronavirus disease (COVID19) outbreak situation. Geneva. Available from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novelcoronavirus 2019 (Consulted on November 28th 2020)). COVID-19 started spreading rapidly to other countries by the end of December 2019. With the spread of the virus worldwide, global concerns about human pandemics are growing. As of December 2021, the global death toll had passed 5,455,963, with infections rising to more than 289,116,951 (Coronavirus. Available from: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/turkey/). The first case in Africa was identified in Egypt in February 2020. According to the WHO, there have been 9,822,511 confirmed cases and 229,061 deaths registered in Africa by 30 December 2021. South Africa and Morocco have crossed 1,000,000 cases. They are followed by Tunisia (726,706 cases), Ethiopia (420,342 cases) and Egypt (388,734 cases) (Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports, 2021 Available from: https:// www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports (consulté le 5 juin 2020)).
This essay opposes the idea that contemporary critical events like pandemics, global warming, environmental deterioration, et cetera, are to be considered as affecting humanity in a uniform way. Instead of seeing these phenomena like abstract universal threats, I propose to look at them through the lens of my concept of differential harm. By drawing on interdisciplinary sources, this concept aims at covering a series of processes that are best described in differential, rather than absolute, terms. By the same token, differential harm is a matter of scale. Moreover, this essay also suggests that macroscopic critical processes are better understood as instances of harm, rather than violence. Instead of framing macroscopic disruptive phenomena as simple calamities or crises, my approach also aims at acknowledging their social, political, and psychological dimensions.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health crisis associated with adverse physical, psychological, economic, and social consequences. Studies on the impact of COVID-19 on IPV against women are scarce. This study aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on IPV against women. Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched using the MeSH terms intimate partner violence, COVID-19, and women. Exclusion criteria were male-partner, elder, and child abuse and studies that targeted specific groups such as cancer, HIV, and substance abuse. Two independent reviewers completed the title, abstract screening, and review of selected articles. Thirteen out of 647 articles met the inclusion criteria. IPV against women increased in nine countries (Spain, United States, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Turkey, Peru, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo); one country showed no change in gender-based violence among adolescent girls and young women (Kenya); and one study reported a decrease in IPV reporting by victims (United States). Policies made to mitigate the pandemic created unintended consequences that exacerbated risk factors for IPV against women. Lessons learned from COVID-19 must be used to develop policy-level support and response services to mitigate IPV against women amid a pandemic and other human crises.
In comparison to many nations, Australia has fared well in terms of resisting the proliferation of COVID-19 and, to date, has kept rates of infection and morbidity relatively low. Nevertheless, some perturbing issues can be identified regarding the experiences of older people living through the pandemic. These are the experience of older people in residential aged care and the increased rates of elder abuse in the community during lockdowns. This chapter will consider these issues in five parts. Part 1 will discuss Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic including unprecedented state and territory lockdowns and border closures. Part 2 emphasizes the particular vulnerability of older people to COVID-19, borne out by grim national mortality rates for Australians over 65, especially for those in residential aged care. Part 3 considers the roadblocks encountered in residential aged care: a lack of training of staff and PPE equipment, orders prohibiting infected residents to be transferred to the hospital and a lack of coordinated government response. These and other factors contributed to older people in residential aged care making up most COVID-19-related deaths in Australia. Part 4 considers a rise in reports of elder abuse during the pandemic lockdowns. It seems that social isolation, in combination with increased dependence on family members or, conversely, younger family members seeking assistance from the older person, has seen many older people finding themselves in hazardous domestic circumstances and unable to access assistance. The chapter concludes by considering what the COVID-19 experience tells us about attitudes to ageing in Australia, the inadequacy of responses to the plight of older persons diagnosed with the virus, and what steps should be taken to ensure more effective and appropriate responses, should Australia be faced with such an emergency again.KeywordsResidential aged careElder abuseVulnerabilitiesEffective steps
The COVID-19 outbreak led to widespread disruption and stress to people's lives. Concern about the escalation of domestic violence (DV) rates and related mental health issues soon emerged following the implementation of strategies aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. This perspective paper presents an overview of the issues, argues for greater recognition of the link between DV against women and serious emotional distress, and the need for greater awareness and knowledge about DV among mental health professionals. While we acknowledge that men also experience DV, their rates are much lower than for women and in this paper our focus is on women.
Chapter 1 introduces the aims and theoretical frameworks underlying this edited collection, which subsequently examines how legacy and social media report on violence against women in 11 Global South countries, including in Southeast Asia (Indonesia), Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico), sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa), and the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Yemen). Building on the globally impactful work of #MeToo founder and United States (US) activist, Tarana Burke, this collection offers a genealogy of how violence against women has mostly been reported by journalists located in the Global North, before #MeToo emerged in 2006. It focuses on this movement’s revitalization as a hashtag in October 2017 through to its proliferation in the COVID-19 era. Although the United Nations (UN) highlights that violence against women is a universal problem, Chapter 1 demonstrates that this violence is reported unevenly between the Global North and Global South. The chapter also introduces the ensuing nine chapters in the collection, highlighting how journalism studies from the Global North that examined the #MeToo movement mainly focused on sexual harassment and relied on a backing of white perspectives, middle-to-upper income, and cisgendered Western feminist discourse. Given that sexual harassment is just one part of the sexual violence continuum, Chapter 1 argues that women in the Global South have mostly been ignored in mainstream media reportage regarding violence against women. The chapter calls for their stories to be amplified through an intersectional lens and for a solutions-driven journalism narrative to be determined.KeywordsGlobal NorthGlobal SouthViolence against womenFeminism#MeTooCOVID normalIntersectionalitySolutions journalism
Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) is a multifaceted complex phenomenon that needs urgent comprehensive attention in South Africa and other similarly or worse-off affected countries. Central to combating and eliminating GBVF starts with a systematic understanding of the drivers of GBVF. The research aims to develop a conceptual framework of drivers of gender-based violence and femicide, which can be applied to different GVBF improvement studies. The conceptual framework was developed using ecological system theory having 20 indicators relating to: microsystem – personal history and individual factors; mesosystem – interpersonal relationships; exosystem – community factors; macrosystem – societal factors; and chronosystem – significant changes over time. The framework interlinking these GBVF drivers allows for the diagnosis of the main drivers of GBVF and estimates its impact on the victims and their families. This, in turn, can help to combat and eliminate GBVF through moderation with GBVF policies and strategies. This study contributes to systematically demystifying of drivers of GBVF, especially in South Africa and similar African countries.
The objective of this study was to capture therapists’ experiences of delivering therapy throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic and how this experience impacted therapeutic alliance. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on the responses to three surveys distributed to all UKCP members. The qualitative and quantitative analyses found significant variability in therapists’ feelings regarding the transition to online therapy, with overall perceptions continuing to be divided similarly throughout the nine months surveyed. While qualitative data highlighted positive perceptions of online therapy for some, quantitative results showed that most did not find online therapy to be as effective as face‐to‐face therapy. The pandemic and subsequent shift to online work had significant implications for therapists, including navigating unfamiliar changes to the therapeutic space resulting from experiencing a shared crisis, and holding the frame in relation to boundaries of safety. In the wake of the pandemic, as things shift increasingly towards a hybrid model of delivering therapy, it is important to reflect on what can be learned from this transition and how this influences future therapeutic practices.
Aim
This study aims to describe how school nurses identify students who are being exposed to violence.
Design
The study has a qualitative design focusing on illuminating the meanings embodied in lived experiences
Method
Fourteen qualitative interviews with school nurses were conducted and a descriptive qualitative meaning analysis was used to cast light on the phenomenon. The COREQ checklist was used to ensure trustworthiness.
Results
Four themes were highlighted: opportunity in the health dialogue, necessity to create and prove trustworthiness, cooperation with other professionals, and awareness of factors that could complicate reporting exposure to violence. The study provided new insights such as the school nurse having an important role in the identification of students exposed to violence. It is important that school nurses have an open approach and are systematic in the health dialogue, using questions about violence to create opportunities for students to talk about their living conditions.
The Covid-19 pandemic is turning the world upside down, affecting almost all private and public domains, including child protection. In order to shed some light on the consequences of the early months of the pandemic for organized child protection, the project “Child and Youth Welfare Services and Social Change” at the German Youth Institute (www.dji.de/jhsw) conducted a brief online survey of local Children and Youth Welfare Authorities in spring 2020. In order to frame and contextualise the empirical findings, we also conducted a narrative review of the professional discourse in spring and summer 2020.
The results of our study have already been widely disseminated in the national context (e.g. Mairhofer et al. 2020, 2021 a,b,c). In addition, the final report of the study was translated into Croatian language on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia. With this report we would like to make selected results of
our study and our literature research also available to a more general international audience. Although our survey investigated several facets of child and youth welfare services, this article only presents selected findings relating to child protection and
positions them in the context of further reflections on child protection in times of pandemic.
Child protection is characterized by a high degree of complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity. What is already true under “normal” conditions is even truer in the current exceptional pandemic situation, as will be shown in this article. The pandemic
has acted as a multiplier, intensifying the structural challenges of organized child protection. This finding follows from a narrative review of literature and empirical results of our nationwide survey of local Child and Youth Welfare Authorities.
O objetivo deste artigo é refletir acerca das repercussões do distanciamento social nas rotinas e ocupações de crianças durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Trata-se de ensaio reflexivo, estruturado a partir de uma revisão narrativa, sendo pesquisados estudos sobre a influência da pandemia nas rotinas e ocupações infantis e identificado os objetivos, métodos e principais resultados de cada documento. Os dados, submetidos à análise de conteúdo, resultaram nas categorias: Distanciamento social e vulnerabilidades; Saúde mental e influências no engajamento em ocupações; Engajamento em ocupações relacionadas à alimentação; Engajamento em ocupações escolares e de aprendizagem e Influências da tecnologia no engajamento em ocupações. Sob a perspectiva ocupacional, as experiências no distanciamento social revelam situações complexas possíveis de desencadear privação ocupacional, prejudicando a saúde e bem-estar de crianças e famílias. Todavia, podem oportunizar a revisão de formas, propósitos e significados além do engajamento em ocupações que recebiam menos tempo e investimento pessoal.Palavras-chave: Infecções por Coronavirus; Isolamento social; Criança; Desenvolvimento Infantil; Terapia Ocupacional.
Introduction
Technology has been used in evidence-based child maltreatment (CM) programs for over a decade. Although advancements have been made, the extent of the application of technology in these programs, and its influence on parental and child outcomes, remains unclear within the context of changes that emerged because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This scoping review provides a contextualized overview and summary of the use of technology in evidence-based parenting and child programs serving families impacted by child maltreatment and the effects of technology-enhanced programs on target outcomes.
Materials and methods
Using Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework, we searched seven databases to identify peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English from 2000 to 2023 on evidence-based programs, according to the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC), that included technological supports for two populations: at-risk parents for child maltreatment prevention, and children and youth 0–18 years exposed to child maltreatment. All study designs were included.
Results
Eight evidence-based parenting programs and one evidence-based child trauma program were identified as using technology across a total of 25 peer-reviewed articles and 2 peer-reviewed abstracts meeting inclusion criteria ( n = 19 on parent-level programs; n = 8 on child-level programs). Four studies were published in the context of COVID-19. Two main uses of technology emerged: (1) remote programmatic delivery (i.e., delivering all or part of the program virtually using technology) and (2) programmatic enhancement (i.e., augmenting program content with technology). Improvements across parenting and child mental health and behavioral outcomes were generally observed.
Discussion
Technology use in evidence-based child maltreatment programs is not new; however, the small sample since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in this review that met inclusion criteria highlight the dearth of research published on the topic. Findings also suggest the need for the inclusion of implementation outcomes related to adoption and engagement, which could inform equitable dissemination and implementation of these programs. Additional considerations for research and practice are discussed.
This article explores men’s narratives as perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic. While there was a surge in gender-based violence during the pandemic, femicide and gender-based violence were a problem in South Africa even before the pandemic. Despite research indicating that men are statistically the perpetrators of GBV, there is a paucity of research on engaging men in South Africa. We wanted to understand the context in which GBV took place during a national disaster, to inform GBV prevention strategies. The study therefore aimed to explore men’s narratives of GBV during COVID-19 and the professionals working with the men to include the views of perpetrators in GBV policy and practice. A qualitative case study design was employed, and postcolonial feminism was used as the theoretical framework. The target population consists of men who have committed GBV, social workers, community workers and police. Eleven men who committed acts of GBV during the pandemic were interviewed, as well as 15 social workers and police officers who work in three rural regions in the Western Cape, South Africa. The results show that the participants were perpetrators of GBV, but that they returned to the same relationship after having been arrested for GBV. There was a lack of resources for perpetrators of GBV during the pandemic. The findings also reveal men’s normative role expectations and their positionality during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the legacy of racialized oppression persists in rural communities. The implications are that GBV prevention should consider the postcolonial context of men who are violent.
Purpose:
This systematic review aims to identify and synthesize the available evidence on the receptivity toward, perceived advantages and challenges of remote service delivery among social work clients and practitioners during the context of COVID-19.
Method:
Two electronic databases were searched from 2020 to 2022. Identified papers were screened against the established eligibility criteria, yielding 15 papers. Two additional papers were further identified through hand-search. As heterogeneity of studies was high, a narrative synthesis was performed to summarize the overall evidence.
Results:
Our review provides evidence that remote service delivery holds the potential to increase access to services among selected client populations as well as promote a sense of empowerment for clients and opportunities for practice enhancement for practitioners.
Discussion & conclusion:
The findings from our study highlighted the need for innovative solutions and practical considerations for ongoing remote service, including the careful considerations of social work clients' and practitioners' suitability, the need for provision of training and ongoing support to optimize practitioners' well-being. As the delivery of services transition to face-to-face or remain remote, further research is needed to assess the promise of remote practice in optimizing overall service delivery, while maintaining client-reported satisfaction.
Royal jelly is a yellowish to white gel-like substance that is known as a "superfood" and consumed by queen bees. There are certain compounds in royal jelly considered to have health-promoting properties, including 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid and major royal jelly proteins. Royal jelly has beneficial effects on some disorders such as cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties have been ascribed to this substance. This chapter describes the effects of royal jelly on COVID-19 disease.
The present study investigated, in a dyadic approach, whether phobic symptoms experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic correlated with conflicts with romantic partners and subjective change in the quality of romantic relationships during the pandemic. Although previous studies investigated stress and partner’s responsiveness as predictors of romantic satisfaction during the pandemic, the present study investigated the phobia as a particular emotional consequence of pandemic-related stress for romantic couples. One hundred fifteen marital couples (230 individuals) participated in the study. Both spouses from each marital couple assessed their COVID-19 phobia, marital disagreements during the pandemic, perceived dyadic coping of their partner and subjective change in relationship quality compared to the quality before the outbreak of the pandemic. We observed that COVID-19 phobia predicted higher marital disagreements in husbands and wives and that the wives’ COVID-19 phobia predicted higher perceived marital disagreements among the husbands. Perceived partner's supportive behavior buffered the actor effects of COVID-19 phobia in men and women. Additionally, higher husband's COVID-19 phobia predicted subjective positive change in relationship quality during the pandemic when the wife's supportiveness was perceived as lower.
The whole world is now dealing with the increase in cases of domestic violence. To determine domestic violence, usually each family will be the target of either the perpetrator or the victim. This is an issue that requires special attention from the authorities to identify the causes and the best solution. Thus, this study will discuss issues related to domestic violence in Malaysia and the legal actions based on the provisions as provided by the Domestic Violence Act 1994 in handling such cases. Several factors have been identified for the occurrence of domestic violence and the form of legal action that can protect the victims. This article was written based on qualitative method by looking at official documents and cases that occurred in Malaysia. It can be concluded that domestic violence can happen to family members, spouses, children, and the elderly. In addition, this article also explains the role of the Social Welfare Department in helping victims of domestic violence based on the protections enshrined in the Penal Code, the Domestic Violence Act 1994 and the Child Act 2001.
In the unparalleled and extraordinary public health emergency in which we find ourselves, across the world nurses stand as we always do – at the front line. Nurses everywhere are staffing our clinics, hospital wards and units – in some situations, literally working until they drop, and in some regions, they are doing so while dealing with a lack of essential items. Indeed, we see reports that nurses in many parts of the world are grappling with shortages of much needed supplies including personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and gowns, yet are actively embracing the challenges presented by COVID‐19.
Coronavirus: Domestic Abuse Calls up 25% Since Lockdown, Charity Says
BBC (2020) Coronavirus: Domestic Abuse Calls up 25% Since Lockdown, Charity Says.
Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52157620
What to do if you Need Urgent Police Help Through the 999 Service, But Can't Speak
- Ingala Smith
Ingala Smith, K. (2020) Counting Dead Women. Available: https://kareningalasmith.com/
Independent Office for Police Conduct (2019) What to do if you Need Urgent Police Help
Through the 999 Service, But Can't Speak. Available:
https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/researchlearning/Silent_solution_guide.pdf
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Support for Victims of Domestic Abuse
- The Guardian
The Guardian. (2020). Lockdowns around the world bring rise in domestic violence. Available at https://www.thegu ardian.com/
socie ty/2020/mar/28/lockd owns-world -rise-domes tic-viole
nce?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
UK Home Office. (2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19): Support for Victims of
Domestic Abuse. Available at https://www.gov.uk/gover nment /publi
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