Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti
# Background Emerging data, media reports, and anecdotal evidence suggest that domestic violence (DV) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, more detailed data are needed on the magnitude, forms, and causes of DV during COVID-19 in different contexts worldwide. We sought to contribute...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Inishmore Laser Scientific Publishing Ltd
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Global Health Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.24944 |
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| author | Ann Gottert Tim Abuya Sharif Hossain Alain Casseus Charlotte Warren Pooja Sripad |
| author_facet | Ann Gottert Tim Abuya Sharif Hossain Alain Casseus Charlotte Warren Pooja Sripad |
| author_sort | Ann Gottert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
Emerging data, media reports, and anecdotal evidence suggest that domestic violence (DV) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, more detailed data are needed on the magnitude, forms, and causes of DV during COVID-19 in different contexts worldwide. We sought to contribute such evidence from the perspective of community health workers (CHWs) in low-middle income countries in three different regions of the world.
# Methods
We conducted phone surveys with female and male CHWs from September-December 2020 in Kenya (n=1,385), Bangladesh (n=370), and Haiti (n=261). Descriptive and selected bivariate analyses were performed.
# Results
In total, 56%, 32% and 12% perceived increased DV in their communities during COVID-19 in Kenya, Bangladesh and Haiti, respectively. This included violence against both intimate partners and children. Key reasons reported for DV increases were increased stress/tension due to loss of employment/income (\>80%) and children being home/misbehaving (\>50%). In Kenya CHWs also cited partners spending more time together (59%), increased alcohol/substance use (38%), and conflict over childcare/housework responsibilities (33%). In bivariate analyses, in Kenya and Bangladesh, reporting a greater number of reasons for increased DV was associated with reporting co-occurring violence against both intimate partners and children (vs. just partners; *P*\<0.001).
# Conclusions
Over half of CHWs in Kenya and one-third in Bangladesh perceived increased DV during COVID-19, largely due to increased stress/tension related to economic hardship and childcare. Fewer perceived increased DV in Haiti, where lockdowns have been less severe. Preventing and responding to DV must be central to COVID-19 response and recovery plans, and should include meeting families’ economic and childcare/schooling needs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-326ef291db284fa78c5c6507bae985c3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2399-1623 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Inishmore Laser Scientific Publishing Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Global Health Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-326ef291db284fa78c5c6507bae985c32025-08-20T02:40:07ZengInishmore Laser Scientific Publishing LtdJournal of Global Health Reports2399-16232021-07-01510.29392/001c.24944Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and HaitiAnn GottertTim AbuyaSharif HossainAlain CasseusCharlotte WarrenPooja Sripad# Background Emerging data, media reports, and anecdotal evidence suggest that domestic violence (DV) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, more detailed data are needed on the magnitude, forms, and causes of DV during COVID-19 in different contexts worldwide. We sought to contribute such evidence from the perspective of community health workers (CHWs) in low-middle income countries in three different regions of the world. # Methods We conducted phone surveys with female and male CHWs from September-December 2020 in Kenya (n=1,385), Bangladesh (n=370), and Haiti (n=261). Descriptive and selected bivariate analyses were performed. # Results In total, 56%, 32% and 12% perceived increased DV in their communities during COVID-19 in Kenya, Bangladesh and Haiti, respectively. This included violence against both intimate partners and children. Key reasons reported for DV increases were increased stress/tension due to loss of employment/income (\>80%) and children being home/misbehaving (\>50%). In Kenya CHWs also cited partners spending more time together (59%), increased alcohol/substance use (38%), and conflict over childcare/housework responsibilities (33%). In bivariate analyses, in Kenya and Bangladesh, reporting a greater number of reasons for increased DV was associated with reporting co-occurring violence against both intimate partners and children (vs. just partners; *P*\<0.001). # Conclusions Over half of CHWs in Kenya and one-third in Bangladesh perceived increased DV during COVID-19, largely due to increased stress/tension related to economic hardship and childcare. Fewer perceived increased DV in Haiti, where lockdowns have been less severe. Preventing and responding to DV must be central to COVID-19 response and recovery plans, and should include meeting families’ economic and childcare/schooling needs.https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.24944 |
| spellingShingle | Ann Gottert Tim Abuya Sharif Hossain Alain Casseus Charlotte Warren Pooja Sripad Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti Journal of Global Health Reports |
| title | Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti |
| title_full | Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti |
| title_fullStr | Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti |
| title_short | Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti |
| title_sort | extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the covid 19 pandemic community health worker perspectives from kenya bangladesh and haiti |
| url | https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.24944 |
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