Extent and causes of increased domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: community health worker perspectives from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Haiti

• DOI: 10.29392/001c.24944
• Publication Date: 2021-07-06T11:36:39Z
• Authors: Ann Gottert; Tim Abuya; Sharif Hossain; Alain Casseus; Charlotte Warren; Pooja Sripad
• Keywords: Developing country; Economics; Social Sciences; Health Professions; Intimate Partner Violence; Poison control; Infectious disease (medical specialty); Domestic violence; 03 medical and health sciences; Suicide prevention; 0302 clinical medicine; Sociology; 5. Gender equality; Intimate Partner Violence and Health Consequences; Health Sciences; Pathology; Psychology; Disease; 10. No inequality; Economic growth; Demography; Pandemic; Geography; 1. No poverty; FOS: Sociology; 3. Good health; FOS: Psychology; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Clinical Psychology; Environmental health; Occupational safety and health; Health; Socioeconomics; General Health Professions; Medicine; Adolescent Sexual Health and Behavior Patterns; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Mental Health of Refugees and Immigrants

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.