Intimate Partner Violence During COVID-19 Restrictions: A Study of 30 Countries From the I-SHARE Consortium. Issue 11 (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campbell, Linda; Tan, Rayner K. J.; Uhlich, Maximiliane; Francis, Joel M.; Mark, Kristen; Miall, Naomi; Eleuteri, Stefano; Gabster, Amanda; Shamu, Simukai; Plášilová, Leona; Kemigisha, Elizabeth; Olumide, Adesola; Kosana, Priya; Hurtado-Murillo, Felipe; Larsson, Elin C.; Cleeve, Amanda; Calvo González, Soraya; Perrotta, Gabriela; Fernández Albamonte, Victoria; Blanco, Lucía; Schröder, Johanna; Adebayo, Adedamola; Hendriks, Jacqueline; Saltis, Hanna; Marks, Michael; Wu, Dan; Morroni, Chelsea; Esho, Tammary; Briken, Peer; Hlatshwako, Takhona Grace; Ryan, Rebecca; Farid, Nik Daliana Nik; Gomez Bravo, Raquel; Van de Velde, Sarah; Tucker, Joseph D;
• Is Part Of: Journal of interpersonal violence. Volume 38:Issue 11/12(2023)
• Page Start: 7115
• Page End: 7142
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: IPV -- COVID-19 -- Lockdown -- physical violence -- sexual coercion -- sexual assault -- sexual violence -- global -- social science; Violence -- Periodicals; Sex crimes -- Periodicals; Violence -- Périodiques; Crimes sexuels -- Périodiques; 364.15
• DOI: 10.1177/08862605221141865
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0886-2605

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) causes substantial physical and psychological trauma. Restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and movement restrictions, may exacerbate IPV risk and reduce access to IPV support services. This cross-sectional study examines IPV during COVID-19 restrictions in 30 countries from the International Sexual HeAlth and REproductive Health (I-SHARE) study conducted from July 20th, 2020, to February, 15th, 2021. IPV was a primary outcome measure adapted from a World Health Organization multicountry survey. Mixed-effects modeling was used to determine IPV correlates among participants stratified by cohabitation status. The sample included 23, 067 participants from 30 countries. A total of 1, 070/15, 336 (7.0%) participants stated that they experienced IPV during COVID-19 restrictions. A total of 1, 486/15, 336 (9.2%) participants stated that they had experienced either physical or sexual partner violence before the restrictions, which then decreased to 1, 070 (7.0%) after the restrictions. In general, identifying as a sexual minority and experiencing greater economic vulnerability were associated with higher odds of experiencing IPV during COVID-19 restrictions, which were accentuated among participants who were living with their partners. Greater stringency of COVID-19 restrictions and living in urban or semi-urban areas were associated with lower odds of experiencing IPV in some settings. The I-SHARE data suggest a substantial burden of IPV during COVID-19 restrictions. However, the restrictions were correlated with reduced IPV in some settings. There is a need for investing in specific support systems for survivors of IPV during the implementation of restrictions designed to contain infectious disease outbreaks.