article · Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic affected intimate partner violence across the world. An analysis of survey data from 23,067 individuals across 30 countries evaluated reported violence before and during pandemic restrictions. Overall, 7.0 percent of respondents reported experiencing intimate partner violence during the restrictions, compared to 9.2 percent who reported physical or sexual violence prior to them. Factors such as identifying as a sexual minority and facing greater economic vulnerability correlated with higher odds of experiencing violence during restrictions, particularly among individuals cohabiting with their partners. Conversely, higher stringency of restrictions and residing in urban or semi-urban areas correlated with lower odds of intimate partner violence in certain settings. These findings highlight a substantial burden of partner violence alongside complex variations across different environments, pointing to the necessity of dedicated survivor support systems when implementing movement restrictions during disease outbreaks.
Intimate partner violence causes profound physical and psychological harm. Understanding how emergency containment measures affect interpersonal violence helps social services and public health authorities protect vulnerable populations. By identifying factors that raise risk, such as economic hardship and cohabitation, decision-makers can better allocate resources and maintain targeted support networks during future disease outbreaks and movement restrictions.
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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.
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DOI: 10.1177/08862605221141865
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