Remediation for Effects of Domestic Violence on Psychological well-being, Depression and Suicide among Women During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-cultural Study of Nigeria and Spain

Abstract

Introduction: Domestic violence is violence or abuse in a domestic setting--such as in marriage or cohabitation-- which could result in depression, psychological ill-health and suicide. Unfortunately, neither the appropriateness and effectiveness of DV preventive interventions in deterring future DV nor the appropriate punishment for the aggressors is clear. Could there be remediation strategies for the victims of DV and coping mechanisms for the associated adversities such as increased depression, psychological trauma, suicide, deaths and other adverse effects? These major concerns motivated this study. Objectives: The study seeks to investigate the remediation strategies for effects of DV on PWB, depression and suicide among Women at COVID-19 pandemic and beyond in Nigeria and Spain. Methods: The design used for the study is descriptive survey. The population comprised females in South-Eastern Nigeria who were victims of DV during COVID-19 Pandemic. Using purposive and snowballing sampling technique, 284 females participated. Quantitative study supplemented by qualitative structured in-depth interviews and well-structured five clusters of questionnaires were used to collect data. Results: revealed high prevalence of psychological/emotional violence of between 163 (57.4 %) and 191(68.2 %), impact of DV on their psychological well-being (PWB) 227 (79.9%) to 197 (69.4 %), severe depression 162 (57.0 %) to 236 (83.1%), high suicidal behaviours 226 (79.6%) to 242 (85.2) and coping mechanism/remediation of between 180 (63.4) to 232 (81.7). Discussion: There was high prevalence of DV especially psychological/emotional violence resulting in poor psychological well-being, severe depression and high suicidal behaviours during the COVID-19 lockdown. In conclusion, it is imperative to study the DV detailed epidemiology in pandemics so that interventions which can be delivered during lockdown with the help of health-care and frontline workers could be devised to address this problem.