Incidence Of Domestic Violence Research Articles

PLFS-2018-19 and NFHS-4: Drawing Inferences for Indian Women during COVID-19 Pandemic

Both domestic and public spaces are unequal sites of work for females. The sudden disruption in social and economic life due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to work loss, increase in physical and emotional abuse on females regardless of class status aggravated by an inadequate network of support. It has reinforced gender inequality across economy and domesticity and reveals the fissures that underlie the attempts at establishing gender equality in the country. The PLFS and NFHS-4 data indicate why women are likely to be more vulnerable both in their participation in economic activities and also within the domestic sphere. As economic distress increases across the country, vulnerabilities for women will also exacerbate and increase. Incidence of domestic violence and abuse are likely to increase as more households slip into poverty.

Urban Women Household Experiences during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Turbat Kech Baluchistan

The current study aims at exploring the experiences of working women in the domain of household responsibilities, along with their professional duties during COVID-19. The study was conducted in Turbat Kech, the southern part of Baluchistan, using a qualitative research method. Data for the study was collected through an interview guide from 30 working women, who were selected using a purposive sampling strategy. The study findings show that family conflicts and domestic issues were on the rise during the pandemic. Moreover, the burden of household and professional responsibilities was higher among females from middle-income households rather than lower-income households. The women were not only faced with performing their work responsibilities from home; they also had to carry out their domestic responsibilities. Our data also shows that incidents of domestic violence with women were on the rise during the pandemic.

What School Closure Left in Its Wake: Contrasting Evidence Between Parents and Children from the First COVID-19 Outbreak

To control the spread of COVID-19, the national government of Japan abruptly announced the closure of elementary schools on March 2, 2020, but preschools were exempted from this nationwide school closure. Taking advantage of this natural experiment, we examined how the proactive closure of elementary schools affected various outcomes related to family well-being such as the incidence of domestic violence and marital quality as well as outcomes for children. To identify the causal effects of the school closures, we exploited the discontinuity in the probability of “schooling” at a certain age (in months) and conducted regression discontinuity analyses. The outcomes were measured in both March and August 2020; on the latter occasion, we conducted large-scale online surveys of mothers whose firstborn child was aged 4 to 10 years. The results revealed a slight increase in physical domestic violence by wives in March, but this increase did not persist to August 2020. Furthermore, we found no significant effect in several measures of marital relationship and marital quality. By contrast, even in August, we found significant increases in children’s weight and social media usage as well as in mothers’ anxiety over how to raise their children. These findings together suggest that school closures have no lasting negative effects on marital quality but do have lasting negative impacts on children through lifestyle changes prompted by school closures.

How can general practitioners help all members of the family in the context of domestic violence and COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic's effects on movement restriction and family finances appear to be exacerbating domestic violence incidence and creating barriers to help-seeking for women, men and children.

COVID -19 pandemic is a worldwide typical biopsychosocial crisis

Since December 2019, the world has been stunned by the speed of the spread of the COVID-19. All the possibilities were likely, except that people would hide in their homes for fear of contracting the disease, as it was very unlikely. The lockdown was imposed severely, and people panicked, and their interest has limited to providing food and caring for health and family. The effect of isolation and the prevention of social interaction was apparent in the individuals' psychological behavior. Unfortunately, the incidence of depression, anxiety, and domestic violence increased, which negatively impact family stability in the short and medium-term. The pathological, psychological, and social impact of COVID-19 imposes a framework for dealing with the pandemic based on the biopsychosocial model.

Gender norms and intimate partner violence

We study the relevance of gender norms in accounting for the incidence and intensity of domestic violence. We use data for 28 European countries from the 2012 EU survey on violence against women, and focus on first- and second-generation immigrant women. We find that, after controlling for country-of-residence fixed effects, as well as demographic characteristics and other source-country variables, higher gender equality in the country of ancestry is significantly associated with a lower risk of victimization in the host country. This suggests that gender norms may play an important role in explaining the incidence of intimate partner violence.

Twin public health emergencies: Covid-19 and domestic violence.

While a virus is hardly "choosy" in finding a host, the consequences of government responses to a pandemic, such as to Covid-19, have deep implications for those already-marginalised, such as women and girls. In the absence of a systematic database examining the details of the impact, this comment synthesises existing opinions, reviews and the limited available data to show how, not only the outbreak, but particularly our response to it, are increasing the incidence of domestic violence (DV) across the globe, including in India. Despite tackling a much higher Covid caseload and mortality rate than India has, countries such as France and Spain have prioritised responding to DV in their respective societies, working out contingent mitigation mechanisms. Admittedly, low resource settings (LRS) such as India, have a bevy of additional infrastructure and budgetary challenges; but would that imply we do not respond to DV? This comment argues that in reality we have two public health emergencies to confront, the Covid-19 and domestic violence. It builds on the author's observations in the course of working on DV in an LRS context in India, and concludes with a set of recommendations on better responding to DV during Covid/lockdown times. Keywords Domestic violence, gender-based violence, Covid-19, lockdown, pandemic, low resource settings.

Covid-19 and Domestic Violence: an Indirect Path to Social and Economic Crisis

Purpose: We intend to identify the links between Covid-19 and domestic violence, expose the potential reasons behind an increase in domestic violence cases due to Covid-19, and argue that rising incidence of domestic violence may lead to economic and social crisis. Method: This is a brief note in which authors rely on various statistics and insights regarding domestic violence since the detection of Covid-19. Based on the available statistics regarding domestic violence prevalence during previous times of uncertainty, the number and nature of domestic violence incidents around the globe, and existing literature, the authors argue that clear links exist between Covid-19 and domestic violence, which also impacts on the economic and social crisis. Results: Countries across the world are battling Covid-19 by enacting measures to reduce the speed of transmission. Multiple reports, however, suggest that such measures are increasing the incidence of domestic violence and not only in number but also in severity. We find that layoffs, loss of income, extended domestic stays, and exposure to habits due to stay-at-home orders are driving up the incidence of domestic violence. Moreover, these domestic violence increases are driving economic and social crises due to the form and severity of the violence, the burden placed on government, a crisis of resources, and decreases in the productivity of workforces. Conclusion: Domestic violence increase resulting from Covid-19 is an indirect driver of economic and social crisis. This brief note proposes certain policy changes and strategies required to reduce domestic violence incidence during this turbulent time.

The Effect of Social Distancing on Police Reports of Domestic Violence

We analyze the effect of social distancing related to COVID-19 on domestic violence incidents in the U.S. using novel daily mobile device tracking data, the timing of stay-at-home orders, and dispatch and crime data from twenty-eight police departments. We find that reported incidents of domestic violence increase after local stay-at-home orders are enacted and that domestic violence increases with mobile device tracking measures of social distancing. Our result is consistent with an exposure reduction theory of domestic violence. When applied to the entire U.S., we estimate that social distancing increased domestic violence by approximately 6 percent, or more than 24,000 cases, from March 16 to April 30, 2020.

Sheltering in place and domestic violence: Evidence from calls for service during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an economic slowdown as more people practice social distancing and shelter at home. The increase in family isolation, unemployment, and economic stress has the potential to increase domestic violence. We document the pandemic's impact on police calls for service for domestic violence. The pandemic increased domestic violence calls by 7.5% during March through May of 2020, with effects concentrated during the first five weeks after social distancing began. The increase in reported domestic violence incidents began before official stay-at-home orders were mandated. It is not driven by any particular demographic group but does appear to be driven by households without a previous history of domestic violence.

Serious mental illness and incidents between adult children and parents responded to by police.

Despite a sizable minority of persons with serious mental illness (SMI) acting aggressively toward family members, little is known about this topic. The objectives of the present analyses are to examine the association of offenders' SMI status with offender behaviors and victim outcomes and to compare the immediate contextual characteristics of incidents involving offenders with and without SMI. Using a cross-sectional design, all incidents of domestic violence to which police were called between adult children and their parents in Philadelphia, PA, in 2013 (N = 6191) were analyzed. Additionally, incidents in which the offender was indicated to have SMI (n = 327) were matched with a sample of incidents in which the offender was not indicated to have SMI (n = 327). Offenders having SMI was not associated with using a bodily weapon or gun, threatening victims, or damaging property. Offenders having SMI was associated with a decreased risk of offenders using a non-gun external weapon and victims being observed to have a complaint of pain or visible injuries. When offenders had SMI, conflict was less likely to focus on family issues and more likely to focus on offenders' behaviors and to involve contextual characteristics related to mental illness. Efforts to prevent gun and other violence between non-intimate partner family members should target factors more strongly associated with violence than SMI (e.g. history of domestic violence, substance abuse). Intervening in family aggression by persons with SMI likely requires addressing unique circumstances these parties experience.

Safeguarding Children and Young People During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Safeguarding Children and Young People During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Perceptions of Police Response to Domestic Violence in Puerto Rico: Law 54 and Human Rights

This article addresses perceptions of police response to domestic violence against women in Puerto Rico after police reforms in 2013. Puerto Rico has high rates of fatalities due to domestic violence and police practices preventing fatalities are found to be lacking. Authors address the intersection of domestic violence against women and the systemic failings of Puerto Rican law enforcement and resistance to handling of domestic violence incidents as required by law. The findings of an exploratory, qualitative pilot study with key stakeholders working with women survivors of domestic violence in Puerto Rico are presented. Using a human rights perspective, the study participants note an association between police response to domestic violence and machismo, patriarchy, and colonialism.

Domestic violence, decision-making power, and female employment in Colombia

Using data from the Colombian Demographic and Health Survey, I document a positive association between intimate partner violence against women and the likelihood of women’s employment. This finding persists when I exploit the husband’s own childhood experience of abuse as a source of plausibly exogenous variation for the incidence of domestic violence. To explore potential mechanisms underlying this association, I use a mediation analysis in the presence of intermediate confounders. I find suggestive evidence that a woman’s decision-making power—measured by active input in household and healthcare decisions—as well as a measure for willingness to divorce are likely mediators. I argue that abused women may hold jobs to increase their economic independence and potentially exit abusive relationships.

Impact of COVID -19 on children: special focus on the psychosocial aspect.

Although medical literature shows that children are minimally susceptible to 2019-Corona virus disease (COVID-19), they are hit the hardest by psychosocial impact of this pandemic. Being quarantined in homes and institutions may impose greater psychological burden than the physical sufferings caused by the virus. School closure, lack of outdoor activity, aberrant dietary and sleeping habits are likely to disrupt children's usual lifestyle and can potentially promote monotony, distress, impatience, annoyance and varied neuropsychiatric manifestations. Incidences of domestic violence, child abuse, adulterated online contents are on the rise. Children of single parent and frontline workers suffer unique problems. The children from marginalized communities are particularly susceptible to the infection and may suffer from extended ill-consequences of this pandemic, such as child labor, child trafficking, child marriage, sexual exploitation and death etc. Parents, pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, hospital authorities, government and non-governmental organizations have important roles to play to mitigate the psychosocial ill-effects of COVID-19 on children and adolescents. To provide the basic amenities, social security, medical care, and to minimize the educational inequities among the children of the different strata of the society are foremost priorities.

Gender attitudes in the Arab region – The role of framing and priming effects

Abstract Most evidence on survey response effects is based in the Western world. We use data from two randomized experiments built into a nation-wide representative household survey in Tunisia to analyze the effects of framing and priming on responses to gender attitudes in the Arab context. Our first experiment shows that questions on attitudes towards decision-making power when framed in an equality frame reduce responses in favor of gender inequality. In our second experiment we find that responses to attitudes towards domestic violence are susceptible to an audio primer. Oral statistical information about the incidence of domestic violence in Tunisia increases disapproval of domestic violence among the male subsample further, but does not affect women. In terms of impact heterogeneity, we find mixed results for treatment interventions interacting with the gender of the interviewer and the interviewer’s perceived religiosity.

Factors Affecting Domestic Violence: A Qualitative Study

Background: It seems that violence is a critical issue that requires further research in order to offer new effective solutions in tune with the needs and context of the societies. The current study aimed to explore the influential factors for the incidence of domestic violence. Methods: The current research is a qualitative study conducted using content analysis. Study population included all patients admitted in the hospital to receive healthcare services. The sampling was conducted by interviewing with 50% of the hospitalized patients to assess their primary status, followed by selecting those who were found to be faced with violence. At this stage, 40 patients hospitalized as a result of domestic violence were included. Semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions were used to collect data. Results: The interviews revealed that poverty; addiction, underlying psychological disorders, delinquency, infertility of victim, family and cultural differences, inability to create emotional relationships, low educational level, low monthly income, high-risk sexual relationships, and ignoring moral codes are among the causes of domestic violence. Conclusion: It is obvious that the exact number of victims is hard to be estimated. It seems that lack of the legal, social, cultural, and economic supports results in persistence of violence creator factors at both family and society levels. It seems that performing legal solutions, strengthening social services, and paying more attention to violence creators are necessary when considering domestic violence.

Implementing evidence-based practice in policing family violence:The reliability, validity and feasibility of a risk assessment instrument for prioritising police response

ABSTRACT Frontline police officers who attend domestic violence incidents face a considerable challenge in effectively determining the extent to which limited police resources should be invested in further assessment and management of a case to ensure safety. Assessing the risk of future family violence has been proposed as a way of deciding which cases police should focus their management efforts on. However, risk assessment based on police judgement alone has been shown to be inaccurate, leading to the use of structured risk assessment instruments in many jurisdictions. This paper reports the results of three separate studies that were designed to assess the reliability, predictive validity and feasibility of one such instrument; the Victoria Police Screening Assessment for Family Violence Risk (VP-SAFvR). The VP-SAFvR is an actuarial tool intended to assist police decision making in family violence cases. The first study indicated that the VP-SAFvR had excellent reliability. The second study, a prospective study of 3963 cases demonstrated moderate predictive validity. The final study, based on surveys and focus groups suggested that the tool was viewed as easy to use by the majority of police surveyed. However, they identified some problems in implementation that could be improved to enhance the feasibility of using such instruments in the field. The results demonstrate that structured risk assessment can be used to assist police decision making in a way that is timely, feasible and reasonably accurate.

Mandatory arrest for domestic violence and repeat offending: A meta-analysis

Abstract Historically, domestic violence (DV) has been viewed as a private matter, which limited law enforcement's response to incidents of DV. Shifting perceptions of DV over time and a rise in public pressure to protect DV victims led to efforts within the criminal justice system to better respond to DV incidents. Specifically, mandatory arrest policies, driven by the landmark Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment, were widely adopted in an effort to reduce the likelihood of repeat offending and by effect revictimization. Subsequent replications of the experiment tended to find that arrest of DV offenders did not reduce the likelihood of another offense being committed over the follow-up period. To make sense of the mixed findings regarding the efficacy of mandatory arrest for DV, the current meta-analysis synthesizes the results of 11 published studies to determine whether arrest has an effect on crimes being committed following an arrest for DV. The results of the meta-analysis indicate that arrest did not limit the likelihood of another offense being committed during the follow-up periods and likely did not have a deterrent effect on DV offenders. Moderating variables, including research design and length of follow-up, were also analyzed. Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Staying Home Saves Lives, Really!

As coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading around the world, many national and local governments have imposed social restrictive measures to limit the spread of the virus. Such quarantine measures in different cities across the world have brought a new trend in public safety improvement and crime reduction. Using daily crime reports in the US and European major cities, the aim of this project is to evaluate the effects of quarantine and shelter-in-place policies on different crime categories. We adopt a difference in difference strategy to evaluate the change in crime rates. Early results from Oakland and San Francisco in the U.S. suggest a drop by about 40\% across the communities and crime categories in both cities. While theft, homicide, and traffic accidents have fallen sharply, domestic violence incidents show no sign of reduction from our early observations. These trends although promising a glimpse of positive outcome for the community during the outbreak, may not have a lasting impact in the long term.