Anurudran, A., Yared, L., Comrie, C., Harrison, K., & Burke, T. (2020). Domestic violence amid COVID‐19.International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 150(2), 255-256. Web.
Anurudran et al. (2020) argue that the new measures taken to fight COVID-19 infections heightened the risk of domestic abuse. The authors state that ‘stay-at-home” restrictions not only increased the risk of multiple victimization but also limit their access to relevant social support and networks. Unemployment, financial insecurity, and mental health problems such as substance abuse and depression elevate the risk of domestic violence.
Boserup, B., McKenney, M., & Elkbuli, A. (2020). Alarming trends in US domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 38(12), 2753-2755. Web.
This journal article presents the severe social, psychological, and financial consequences of COVID-19 containment policies on society. Boserup et al. (2020) assert that although these sweeping measures have helped in reducing the spread of the novel disease, they have made people more vulnerable because of limited access to established social support systems. Particularly, mobility restrictions have led to a spike in cases of shooting and domestic abuse.
Bradbury‐Jones, C., & Isham, L. (2020). The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence.Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(13-14), 2047-2049. Web.
This article reports on the unintended, negative consequences of coronavirus containment measures in the UK. Bradbury‐Jones and Isham (2020) point that COVID-19 related outcomes such as job losses, closure of social institutions including businesses and school, and isolation have made children and women more vulnerable to abuse. The authors suggest that governments should take urgent steps to protect and support domestic violence victims and survivors, and individuals who are vulnerable in society.
Kofman, Y. B., & Garfin, D. R. (2020). Home is not always a haven: The domestic violence crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(1), 199-201. Web.
Kofman and Garfin (2020) present a comprehensive literature review on recent epidemics that have spiked abuse in the home in the US and internationally. The authors outline several unique difficulties, conundrums, and dangers that people who have been victimized and survived domestic violence face during such epidemics. They argue that containment measures increased the risk of abuse call for more resources to fight abuse during this crisis and use existing domestic violence guidelines to prepare, respond, and recover from the pandemic.
Leslie, E., & Wilson, R. (2020). Sheltering in place and domestic violence: Evidence from calls for service during COVID-19.Journal of Public Economics, 189, 104241. Web.
This article presents trends in domestic violence-related police calls between March and May 2020. Results of the analysis revealed that the COVID-19 crisis escalated violence cases home, rising by 7.5% during the study period. Leslie and Wilson (2020) attribute this trend to intended consequences of the pandemic such as unemployment, financial strain, and family isolation.
López-Calva, L., F. (2020). No safer place than home? The increase in domestic and gender-based violence during COVID-19 lockdowns in LAC. United Nations Development Program. Web.
According to this post, Latin America and Caribbean countries implemented several stay-at-home measures to deter the spread of the deadly virus. However, instead of keeping people safe from the disease, restrictions such as quarantine and lockdown inadvertently enhanced exposure to already widespread domestic and gender-based violence. Increased social and economic strain attributable to the COVID-19 containment policies such as restricted movement heightened the risk of experiencing abuse in the home.
Mazza, M., Marano, G., Lai, C., Janiri, L., & Sani, G. (2020). Danger in danger: Interpersonal violence during COVID-19 quarantine.Psychiatry Research, 289, 113046. Web.
This journal article presents results of a review of literature on intimate partner violence during COVID-19 pandemic. Findings of their synthesis reveal that the social and economic stress attributed to this crisis make people feel frustrated and agitated, thus, leaving them more vulnerable to perpetrate violence to family members. Considering the increased aggression during the COVID-19 crisis, Mazza et al. (2020) conclude that effective programs should be developed to prevent potential abuse in the home and assess multiple dimensions of domestic violence accurately.
Taub, A. (2020). A new Covid-19 crisis: Domestic abuse rises worldwide. The New York Times. Web.
According to this news article, restricted mobility and other policies implemented to contain the spread of the COVID-19 crisis have played a significant role in increasing the frequency, severity, and risk of domestic violence. Based on an analysis of increasing reports of abuse in the home, Taub (2020) note that “domestic abuse is acting like an opportunistic infection, flourishing in the conditions created by the pandemic” (para. 1). This website illuminates root-causes for growth of domestic violence incidents during the COVID-19 crisis such as failure by governments to recognize how the coronavirus interventions could become opportunistic for perpetration of abuse.
World Health Organization. (2021). Violence, injuries and disability. Web.
According to this website, violence against women tends to surge during emergencies such as the health pandemics. The most notable observation in this source is that the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic has coincided with a rapid increase in the rate of domestic violence in the Eastern Mediterranean region and across the world during. Measures put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19, such as isolation and the restriction of movement increased household stress and contact among family members, consequently exposing women and children to violence.