The hidden monster of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic in resource limited settings: a call to action

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19 has seen an unprecedented increase in social and economic disruption worldwide. While measures such as lockdowns and directives to stay at home have helped ease the impact of the pandemic, there has been an upsurge of reported cases of intimate partner and domestic violence. This problem has disproportionately affected already socially disadvantaged communities especially those in low and middle income countries. This paper discusses domestic violence in the context of COVID-19 and proffers recommendations on how to address this growing burden. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption in almost all facets of life globally. As the world grappled with the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, numerous public health interventions have been instituted across the globe and these include physical distancing, social isolation and stay at home measures among others. While “stay at home” messages have helped to slow down community spreading of the virus, there also has been an increased risk of domestic violence which has been reported during these times. A number of researches have reported increased incidences and concerns around domestic violence 1-9 during the COVID-19 pandemic which suggest that this is a growing public health concern which needs urgent intervention. For instance, evidence from a recent study indicated that there was a 7.5%