In a recent paper published in eClinicalMedicine reflecting the results of a rapid review of literature published up to a year after the pandemic declaration, researchers discovered that globally, COVID-19 restrictions may have increased the risk factors and incidence of family violence in communities.
鈥淥ur objective was three-fold,鈥 explains Dr. Nicole Letourneau, PhD, professor at 草莓污视频导航 Nursing and Cumming School of Medicine and lead investigator on the study. 鈥淲e wanted to examine the occurrence of family violence; identify factors associated with family violence; and identify relevant recommendations from COVID-19 literature published up to one year after the pandemic was announced.鈥
The team reviewed 28 articles including 29 studies between December 2019 and March 21.听Letourneau, a recognized expert in family violence and its effects on childhood development and the family dynamic, says the team鈥檚 review included a wider range of definitions for family violence like intimate partner violence (IPV) and CAN (child abuse and neglect).
鈥淎dditionally the value added was that we focused on the risk factors, as well as recommendations to address family violence in the context of COVID-19.鈥
Interestingly, the literature indicated official justice, police and emergency department records showed declines during the pandemic. But, comments Letourneau, self-reported studies of community households show a rise in family violence. 听
Restrictions may have increased risks
Her explanation is that restrictions may have increased many of the risks for heavily impacted families including mental health concerns, isolation, loneliness, economic vulnerability, job loss and business closures and failures. It is not reflected in official reports for three major reasons.
鈥淲e think that, due to the pandemic's unpredictability, health services were forced to adapt quickly to manage routine care, potentially making it difficult for victims to know where to access help,鈥 Letourneau suggests.
鈥淎s it relates to kids, pandemic restrictions typically reduced children鈥檚 in-person contacts to those solely within their household, which eliminated opportunities for outsiders to notice CAN.
"And victims of IPV or CAN may have been reluctant to seek help due to fears of contracting the virus by accessing health services or the perpetrator discovering the victim鈥檚 attempts to seek help.鈥
Increased proximity prevents victims' seeking help
Letourneau adds that other reviews suggested increased proximity of perpetrators to victims under pandemic health restrictions, such as work-from-home requirements, may have increased coercive control and prevented victims鈥 seeking help.
We see that many families and relevant support systems adapted to COVID-19 over time, so impacts may have been highest during the first year.
The bottom line is that health systems worldwide need to adopt approaches to preventing family violence.听鈥淗ealth services need to treat victims in the context of public health restrictions and increase training for digital service usage by health and educational professionals,鈥 recommends Letourneau.
鈥淧arental stress, burnout, mental distress such as depression, comfort in discussing and managing COVID-19 measures, perceived social isolation, financial and occupational losses and employment change contributed to family violence. As children鈥檚 environments greatly influence their development and health outcomes, there are unintended consequences on parents鈥 and children鈥檚 safety. A different approach is definitely necessary if another COVID-19 wave or pandemic is to occur.鈥听
