ABSTRACT
Mahatma Gandhi said that “crime is due to diseased mind and jail should have an environment like hospitals for prisoner’s treatment and care”. A lot of research is carried out globally during COVID-19, on the well being of peoples staying outside the prisons, but very few large scale researches are available to know about the well being of the prisoners during COVID-19 era. The data is provided by the Prison Section of all the 36 States/UTs in prearranged Performa of the NCRB, through an application made by NCRB. A total of 11,289 custodial death occurred among the prisoners residing in various prisons of India, during the study period, out of which 9,406 (83.32 percent, Total-9406 (Obs-216, Mean-43.55, Std. Dev.- 68.87, Min-0, Max-401, Std. Err.- 4.69, 95% Conf. Interval of mean-34.31 -52.78) mortalities were attributed due to illness. Compared to year 2020, our study revealed that the COVID-19 year 2021 has attributed to largest (16.47 percent increased illness custodial death and 12.14 percent increased total mortalities) number of custodial death due to illness. The study revealed that during the study period, majority of the mortalities were due to heart diseases in prisoners (27.28 percent, Total-2566 (Obs-216, Mean-11.88, Std. Dev.- 19.30, Min-0, Max-123, Std. Err.- 1.31, 95% Conf. Interval of mean-9.29 -14.47). Cholera / Diarrhoea attributed to the least number of mortalities during the study period (0.21 percent, Total-20 (Obs-216, Mean-0.09, Std. Dev. − 0.40, Min-0, Max-4, Std. Err. − 0.03, 95% Conf. Interval of mean-.04 − .15). This six years of study revealed that most of the custodial death (42%), due to illness in prisoners of India was due to CVDs and pulmonary diseases. This study also revealed that 27% of custodial deaths due to illness were not clearly categorized. Honourable Justice Lokur, of Supreme Court of India, said in a landmark judgment, in 2013, that "The distinction made by the NCRB [National Crime Records Bureau] between natural and unnatural custodial deaths is not clear. For example, if a prisoner dies due to a lack of proper medical attention or timely medical attention, would that be classified as a natural custodial death or an unnatural custodial death?" The policymakers and decision-makers must think on the necessity of developing Prisoners care policies following the COVID-19 pandemic, in light of the findings of this research study.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , DeathABSTRACT
Despite modern cardiovascular drugs, latest advanced treatment protocols, several decades of research like longitudinal cohort study of Framingham (ongoing cardiovascular study of residents of the city of Framingham, Massachusetts), as well as various strategies to prevent and control mortality due to myocardial infarction (popularly known as Heart Attack), global improvement against cardiovascular disease (CVD) is flat-lining. COVID-19 affects the cardiovascular system leading to myocardial damage and dysfunction mainly via (ACE-2) the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. The cardiovascular complications of acute COVID-19 are well described in several research studies, but the post- COVID-19 cardiovascular manifestations particularly mortality due to myocardial infarction have not yet been comprehensively evaluated or characterized in research studies. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on annual incidence (new cases number only) of mortality due to MI in different states and union territories (UT) of India. This study is cross-sectional, quantitative, and retrospective in nature. There is an overall increase of 11.02 percent in new MI cases related mortality during the COVID-19 period. This study revealed that there is 25.80 percent increase in total number of new MI cases related mortality in 2022 in comparison to pre-COVID-19 year of 2018. The Male-Sudden death due to Myocardial Infarction increased during COVID-19 year 2022 by 26.71 percent in comparison to 2018 pre- COVID-19 year. Percent wise top 3 states reporting sudden death due to MI in males include Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat. This study revealed that there is 26.71 percent increase in total number of new MI cases related mortality in males in 2022 in comparison to pre-COVID-19 year of 2018. There is an overall increase of 11.24 percent in new MI cases related mortality in males during the COVID-19 period of this study. The Sudden death due to Myocardial Infarction in female increased by 20.17 percent during COVID-19 year 2022 in comparison to 2018 pre- COVID-19 year.
Subject(s)
Myocardial Infarction , Cardiovascular Diseases , Death, Sudden , COVID-19 , CardiomyopathiesABSTRACT
Globally 703 000 people commit suicide (4th leading cause of mortality among 15-29 year-olds, 1.4% of all deaths globally) every year, which have a negative effect on families, colleagues, and societies. India accounts for 36.6 percent of global suicide in women and 24.3 percent among men, while having only 17.8 percent of the global population, also remarkable fact is that the suicide ratio for female is 14.7 per 100,000 compared to 21.2 per 100,000 of male which is 2.1 times the global average in female, while 1.4 times higher for men. COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) pandemic has certainly affected the physical, mental, economical and social well being of global population directly or indirectly in different ways. Deteriorating physical, mental, economical and social health of an individual could increase the suicidal tendency, leading to accidents and suicide. This study tried to find out the COVID-19 pandemic situation impact on accidental death as well as suicide rates in India. The study period is from 1st January 1967 to 31st December 2021, to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic situation on suicide and accidental death rates. This study revealed that the suicide deaths percentage among males increased significantly in comparison to females in COVID-19 era and actual count and incidence also increased. This study revealed that the mean accidental death and suicide both increased during COVID period of study as compared to pre-pandemic whole period from 1967 by 25.47 % and 30.61% respectively. Alternatively we can say that the accidental death and suicides increased significantly in India, which is largely preventable.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , DeathABSTRACT
Despite modern drugs treatment with 60 years of chemotherapy and 90 years of vaccination with various strategies to prevent and control tuberculosis (TB), globally TB ranks 13th in leading causes of mortality. In recent year 2021 Worldwide, TB ranks 2nd after COVID-19, in leading causes of infectious killer, killing about 1.6 million people in 2021 (including 187 000 people infected with HIV). During COVID-19 era 2020, very significant global reduction in TB incidence was detected, which suddenly reduced from 7.1 million in 2019, to 5.8 million in 2020 (–18 percent). Globally, India is listed among the top three countries accounting for 67percent of this global reduction in TB incidence, besides Indonesia and the Philippines. As per data of The World Bank, India’s annual TB incidence was falling continuously since 2000, rose again and reached 210/100,000 in 2021 from 204/100,000 in 2020. A modelling analysis study found that lockdown has induced 80 percent reduction in TB notification rates in India. India ranks fourth in infection and death from COVID-19; hence there is a possibility that slowing down of COVID-19 will unmask the TB cases and deaths leading to increase in the count of TB in future years. In spite of several similarities in manifestation and differences in aetiology, there is still lack of full knowledge about the epidemiological relationship between TB and COVID-19 .To know the real situation and scenario of TB cases this study was started with aim to alert policy maker for needful action to control TB effectively in time. This study aimed to know the impact of COVID-19 on annual TB notifications incidence in India. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative, retrospective, deductive study. This research study included all the 36 states and UTs of India. We performed a linear regression study of the existing data of pre pandemic years included in this study for calculating a counterfactual analysis in order to find out the possible real incidence of TB cases notifications, which may have been notified if the current natural intervention of COVID-19 had not taken place. The annual number of new (TB) cases detected during the pre-COVID-19 period as well as COVID-19 period of this study has shown similar trends separately. During both periods the number of new (TB) cases increased in consecutive years. Another significant finding of this study is that the number of new (TB) cases detected during the first two COVID-19 years i.e. 2020 and 2021 decreased in comparison to last pre-COVID-19 year i.e. 2019. The base year of this study i.e. 2017 are having least whereas the last year of this study i.e. 2022 are having the largest number of new (TB) cases detected in one individual year. There is an increase of 7.79 percent in TB case detection during the COVID-19 period of this study. This study revealed that during first COVID-19 year i.e. 2020 there is significant reduction in number of new (TB) cases detected by 580869 numbers or 24.29 percent in comparison to last pre-COVID-19 year i.e. 2019. The number of new (TB) cases detected increased continuously during pre-COVID-19 years by 29.59 percent in 2018 and 18.49 percent in 2019. The question arises from this study is that, is it possible to achieve the goal of NTEP by year 2025 in current scenario reality?
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Hallucinations , TuberculosisABSTRACT
The inpatient department or IPD is the dedicated unit of a hospital/healthcare facility for admitting patients from the OPD (outpatient department), ED (emergency department), or a referred patient usually from lower facilities for a planned care/procedure, for special medical problems that necessitate suitable care and consideration. The index case of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in India was first suspected (based on clinical grounds) on 27th January 2020, an assumed case of covid-19 in Kerala with a current voyage history of Wuhan, china which was subsequently affirmed as SARS-CoV-2 virus infection positive case by the NIV (National Institute of Virology) situated at Pune in Maharashtra, on January 30th, 2020 as positive for COVID-19. As per the constitution of India Health is a subject matter of state, hence different states had reserved different percentages of beds in pre-existing health facilities for COVID-19 IPD patients, for example, the Delhi government had reserved 50% of pre-existing ICU (intensive care unit) and ward beds for COVID-19 IPD patient's. Besides the other factors such as fear etc, mentioned above this new arrangement of hospital care delivery and prioritization of needs of COVID-19 patients may have resulted in the general cancellations of other IPD patients elective procedures leading to a reduced IPD number of patients with diseases other than COVID-19, as priority was shifted to COVID-19 admitted patient's and cases. The first author researcher of this study has found unusual prevalence in the figure of IPD (Inpatient Department) hospital admissions during his normal course of duties at health centres throughout the current ongoing COVID-19(coronavirus disease-2019) era. To know about the real scenario a good sample size is a requirement for any epidemiological study. Hence this deductive study was done to confirm that, does the COVID-19 era have affected the number of IPD hospital admissions (positively or negatively). This study was started and designed to get an answer to the above question. The aim of this 41months comparative, quantitative, deductive, Cross-Sectional Research Study is to assess the direct impacts of COVID-19 on the number of IPD hospital admissions in India (other than COVID-19), across all public/private/rural/urban health facilities of 36 states and union territories registered on HMIS (Health Management Information System) of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India on a cumulative basis. For the 17 months (2020–2021) COVID-19 pandemic epoch, the total mean number of IPD admissions was 5387311 compared to the total mean7435770 numbers of IPD admission for the previous pre-pandemic 2 years (2018–2019). The total mean number of IPD admission decreased by 2048459 numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic epoch i.e.27.55% decrease in IPD hospital admission observed during COVID-19. This research study revealed that there is a significant decrease in IPD hospital admissions for various medical conditions other than COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic epoch which is a matter of concern for policy and decision-makers. A huge number of dead bodies were found floating in the sacred holy rivers of India (especially in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) during the ongoing COVID-19 epoch. Now it is quite possible that these dead bodies are of people with serious conditions other then COVID-19 who failed to get IPD admissions for treatment and died subsequently without treatment.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Globally diarrheal illness is the second leading reason behind death in kids underneath 5 years accounting for 525 000 kids death annually, which can be treated and prevented if timely interventions are applied as well as can be prevented through safe drinking-water with adequate sanitation and hygiene. Global prevalence of childhood diarrhoea is about 1.7 billion cases per annum. SARS-CoV utilize the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) with the serine protease TMPRSS2 for S protein priming. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are expressed in lung, as well as small intestinal epithelia, added to this the ACE2 is expressed in the oesophagus, liver, and colon; SARS-CoV-2 binds strongly with ACE2 (10–20 times) compared with other SARS-CoV. The purpose of this research is to examine the epidemiology of childhood diarrheal events during COVID-19-period and comparing it with the pre-pandemic period of 2018–2019 as well as monthly-seasonal-temperature variations during different months of pre-pandemic and pandemic period associated diarrhoea to identify any changes in the usual seasonal pattern of childhood diarrheal events. A total of 11171113 eligible childhood diarrhoea (0–5 years) and 1704819 Childhood diarrhoea treated in Inpatients (0–5 years) were analyzed during the 41 month study period. A total of 11171113 (mean-272466.2; [95% Conf. Interval means] 250375.4- 294556.9) childhood diarrhoea (mean-; [95% Conf. Interval means]) (0–5 years), 1704819 (mean 41580.95-; [95% Conf. Interval means − 36458.75- 46703.15]) childhood diarrhoea treated in Inpatients (0–5 years), 7603860 (mean 185460-; [95% Conf. Interval means − 159578.8- 211341.2]) were included in this study on an all-India basis. The 41 months of study when grouped into two groups as pre-pandemic era and pandemic era shows that the Monthly /seasonally Prevalence of Childhood diarrhoea (0–5 years) were MAX in July 2019 monsoon season during pre-pandemic period with 418722 cases ([95% CONF. INTERVAL] 299758.7- 338763.3; STD. ERR.- 9427.519; MEAN-319261; STD. DEV- 46185.22; and MIN-261319 in December 2019, post monsoon season, See table- 1, 3, and 4; figure-5 and 6. During the COVID-19 pandemic period Monthly /seasonally Prevalence of Childhood diarrhoea (0–5 years) were MAX in February 2020 winter season during pre-pandemic period with 284075 cases ([95% CONF. INTERVAL] 188170.3–224635.3; STD. ERR.- 8600.616; MEAN-206402.8; STD. DEV- 35461.25; and MIN-158007 in April 2020.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
In India because of the elevated birth rate and Brobdingnagian population (globally next to china) Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) (National Child Health program) is a significant measure by the Government of India, quite vital for public health care provision systems for reducing mortality in children (to achieve SDG goal), particularly within the current COVID-19 pandemic era throughout which most of the essential maternal- kid RCH (Reproductive and Child Health) health services were disrupted globally as well as in India. One of the researchers is a medical doctor who felt that the performance of RBSK during COVID-19 must be investigated to know the status of implementation of services during the pandemic crisis to alert policymakers if there is a disruption of these vital health services due to ongoing pandemic so that proper and timely action should be taken to rectify disruption if any during as well as after pandemic. This analysis study was done to supply significant information to the scientific community and decision-makers with concrete information analysis from authorized HMIS (Health Management data system) of Government - MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)) to provide the COVID-19 impact on RBSK services by public health care facilities across thirty-six states and UTs of India. This novel cross sectional research study revealed that COVID-19 period 2020 had a less number of Male/Female children identified with Disease (6 month to 18 years) screened by RBSK services mobile health teams at Govt and Govt aided schools and Anganwadi centre under RBSK services in India on an all India cumulative basis. This is clearly due to less number of screenings done during the COVID-19 era. The prevalence of Male/Female children identified with Disease (6 month to 18 years) / 1000 screened were 23.49, 31.18 and 29.72 for males and 22.37, 30.27 and 29.31 for females during 2018-2019-2020 respectively, is reduced during COVID-19 era is a good sign.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
In India due to the elevated fertility rate and vast population (globally next to china) mother (Janani) and child (Shishu) protection programs (Suraksha Karyakaram) are quite significant for public healthcare provision systems, especially in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic era during which most of the necessary pregnancy and infant care protective health services utilization are disrupted. The Government of India started JSSK (Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram) on 1st June 2011 for the benefit of millions of pregnant women (PW) and infants utilizing Government (public) health facilities across all the States and UTs (union territories) of India. The Government JSSK scheme provides various free entitlements and services to PW and infants. This may improve maternal and child health services utilization at public health facilities which can reduce MMR (maternal mortality rate) and IMR (infant mortality rate) in the country. The ongoing COVID 19 pandemic era has disrupted several routine health services utilization in India due to lockdowns etc particularly RCH (reproductive and child health) healthcare services which made a situation of rethinking necessary to take necessary steps in the healthcare system's current scenario to prioritize the services according to need and urgency as well as to construct a robust plan to ensure public health services utilization amidst pandemic or any disasters. This research study was done to provide reference to the scientific community and decision-makers with concrete data analysis from accredited HMIS (Health Management Information system) source (Government of India- MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)) to find out the COVID-19 impact on JSSK services utilization by the PW and sick infants of India attending public healthcare facilities across 36 states and UTs of India. This research study was public health facility-based, retrospective, mixed, cross-sectional study that was conducted for infants and pregnant women who utilized the available free services under JSSK in the public health facilities across 36 states and UTs of India from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020. The first COVID-19 patient in India was confirmed on the 27th of January 2020. Hence for this research study, the year before 2020 i.e. 2018, and 2019 were considered as the pre-pandemic period and the year 2020 was considered as the pandemic period. This research study revealed that there is an increase in almost all JSSK service utilization at public health facilities in India compared to the pre-pandemic era on a cumulative all India basis.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
The most significant event of birth and death must be certified medically / non-medically to prove or support the evidence of existence of birth and death of a particular person legal existence between the certified date / timings of birth and death. Apart from this legal significance, footage of births and mortality is central basic data required for policy and planning about a population group / country such as provisioning of fundamental requirements like food, cloth, housing, health care, transportation, education etc. The national / state programmes planning, management, implementation can be effectual and triumphant only if this statistical information of birth and death is specific, reliable, timely and correct. Hence, the certification / registration of births and mortality are significant as well as necessity of modern era. We aimed to assess percentage of mortality medically certified among total registered mortality in 36 States & UTs of India during 2018–2020 and COVID-19 mortality age-sex distribution pattern in India during 2020 medically certified due to pandemic in India with available data resources. The mortality data for this cross sectional retrospective observational study were obtained through Civil Registration System of India under the RBD Act, 1969. The data available were obtained on medically certified cause of deaths from States/UTs has been collected, tabulated, analysed in compliance with the ICD - Tenth Revision (1993). The total registered death during 2018 was 6911197 for 2019 it was 7596849 and in 2020 8062070. The figure increased continuously during successive years but there is a question mark on this data. The total RD increased by 685652 numbers in 2019 compared to 2018 whereas despite the COVID-19 PANDEMIC impact the increase in figures during 2020 was 240148 only which are highly questionable? The researcher found that this controversy is also raised by several global highly accredited international organizations like WHO etc. This research study revealed that Bihar which is second most populous state in India ranked lowest in medical certification of cause of death, 2020 which is amazing. Bihar ranked lowest with only 3.4 percent medically certified deaths during 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic era. Hence a large number of mortality during COVID-19 era remains uncertified till date in states like Bihar. This observational research study revealed that the majority of COVID-19 mortality was found in the age group of 45 years and above accounting for 82.7 per cent of total deaths in the group. The percentage of female mortality aged 34 years and below as well as for 55–64 years age group and 65–69 years age group, to total female deaths are greater in comparison to corresponding age groups mortality for male while in other groups male mortality were more than females. Particularly in poor states like Bihar in India the lower socio-economic strata of population may be more affected by low MCCD which is chiefly due to failure of Public Health Management related largely to corruption, posting and other scams. Bihar ranked lowest with only 3.4 percent medically certified deaths during 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic era. Hence a large number of mortality during COVID-19 era remains uncertified till date in states like Bihar. The researcher has found that in states like Bihar the total registered deaths have increased continuously during study period while MCCD decreased continuously during the study period which is due to failure of public health management and corruption, posting scams etc., by which such states are putting highly incapable / untrained person on state programme officer etc vital posts. These irregularities or ignorance have put India’s data credibility in doubt at international level bringing shame to the nation.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Due to novel disease, poor management and stringent steps taken by the government as well as sudden increase in admissions at emergency department of hospitals the mortality rate had increased significantly due to COVID-19. Such a catastrophic situation might have reduced the foreign tourist arrivals in India due to several factors like fear, lack of transportation etc. In this modern era geographical knowledge of pattern of distribution of disease is essential while detecting, surveillance, monitoring and responding to any communicable infectious disease outbreak or NCD (non-communicable diseases) or any pandemic situations. Geospatial data of COVID-19 infections per million population reported by countries, territories and areas are under surveillance by national and international agencies such as World Health Organization in various countries. This paper is to find out the impact of COVID-19 on Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India from top 15 Source Countries during 2019 &2020 with aim to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic era (2020 as discussed above) by comparing it with pre-pandemic era of 2019. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on Foreign Tourist Arrivals number and percentage share of tourists coming to India during pandemic era-2020 and pre-pandemic era 2019 were compared. The total numbers of FTAs in India during 2019 from all source countries were 10930355 which reduced to 2744766 during COVID-19 PANDEMIC ERA in 2020; a massive decline by 8185589 numbers of tourists and 25.11percent compared to pre-pandemic era of 2019. On the other hand the total numbers of FTAs in India during 2019 from Total Top 15 Countries were 8340551 which decreased to 2061161 during COVID-19 PANDEMIC ERA in 2020; a huge decline by 6279390 numbers of tourists and 24.71percent compared to pre-pandemic era of 2019 while FTAs in India during 2019 from Other Countries were 2589804 reduced to 683605 during Covid-era 2020 (26.40% decrease). Tourism is one of the significant resources to generate foreign revenue for India. COVID-19 pandemic era, have affected the tourism sector negatively and this novel research study revealed that the national and international FTAs and revenue income are adversely affected detrimental for Tourism industry. The COVID-19 induced lockdown had resulted in closure of hotels; resorts etc., as well as ships, cruises, flights had been halted to check the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in revenue loss of 1.25 trillion rupees for the Indian tourism industry by 2020.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Several local / global / national / international agencies have been estimating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mortality count in different regions. On 30 January 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Death toll was only 171 on 30-01-2020 and by 31 -12- 2020, this figure increased to 1 813 188. The estimates of global deaths attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as published by WHO is at least 3 million, which is 1.2 million more than officially reported. Objective of this research study is to find out number of deaths in the household in the three years preceding the survey registered with the civil authorities’ with another objective of this research study is to estimate the excess mortality due to COVID-19 in a simple way to be understood by most of the readers. The total sample size was 35,834 households, 42,483 women of age 15–49 (including 6,350 women interviewed in PSUs in the state module), and 4,897 men of age 15–54 for the state of Bihar. This sample size was based on the size needed to produce reliable indicator estimates for each district. Household questionnaire regarding number of deaths in the household in the three years preceding the survey were collected and utilized to produce information in 19 languages using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing). This cross sectional survey study revealed that only 37.1 percent of deaths of households members due to any cause were registered with the civil authorities in the three years preceding the survey, of which 28 percent of deaths are at age 0–4, 45 percent of deaths occurred at age 25–34, and 41 percent of deaths occurred at age 35 and above (see table-1 and 2 for more details).
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Violence against women is a global problem, affecting women around the world irrespective of age, races, education, ethnicity, groups, economy classes and nationalities. Sometimes in situation of disaster like covid-19 pandemic it may be a life-threatening situation for an individual woman. In India due to a huge female population, illiteracy, equity issues, gender issues, religious issues, lack of positive deviance, illiteracy, socio-economic factors, migration after marriage and in search of job from rural to urban areas, inaccessibility to seek legal help, the safety of women is of prime concern. The key aim of this observational retrospective cross-sectional comparative mixed research study is to find out impact of SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic era on Prevalence of complaints of violence against women in India, across 36 different states and union territories from the beginning of the pandemic i.e. January 2020 and comparing it with previous six pre-pandemic years. The objective is to find out that the ongoing covid-19 pandemic years has a positive or negative effect over prevalence of complaints of violence against women. Data from NCW (National Commission for Women) which set up by Act No. 20 of 1990 of Govt. of India as constitutional/ legislative body in January 1992 under the (National Commission for Women) NCW Act, 1990, is extracted, observed, analysed for this research study with Microsoft office and stata software. The period of study is from January 2014 to 2022 December (projected). This is an observational retrospective cross-sectional comparative mixed research study. The ongoing three years of covid-19 pandemic i.e. 2020 and 2021, 2022 is compared to previous pre-pandemic years to know the impact of covid-19 on complaints of violence against women in India. Increase in prevalence of complaint of violence against women in India is revealed in this research study during covid-19 pandemic years as compared to pre-pandemic era under observation except 2014. During the 2021, second year of covid-19 pandemic the total numbers of violence complaint Report of the Complaints Received by NCW was 30865 which is an increase by 55.03 percent compared to 2018 and 56.43% as compared to 2019. This research study found that National Commission for Women is expected to receive 35287 complaints of crimes committed against women in 2022 as per current trends, the highest in the last eight years. The barriers in delivery of legal and protective system and helpful services etc. should be rectified. A proper dynamic plan for women protection services working even in pandemics and natural disasters should be enforced and implemented.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Background: The safety of women is of significance and prime concern in India due to a huge female population, equity issues, gender issues, lack of positive deviance at community level, illiteracy, socio-economic factors, migration from rural to urban areas, inaccessibility to legal help and of course many more factors. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had presented a challenge even for developed nations around the world regarding women’s protection in the ongoing pandemic era & especially in the lockdown period when it’s really difficult to go out and shout for help. Aim and ObjectivesThe main aim of this research is to find out impact of SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on violence against women in India across different states and union territories from the beginning of pandemic i.e. January 2020. The objective is to find out that the covid-19 era has a positive or negative impact over violence against women. Data from various accredited sources were continuously collected, observed and analysed for this research study. Settings & DesignThe month-wise and state-wise data indicating number of complaints registered with National Commission for Women in India(NCW) under different categories are presented in different table 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7,8 will be discussed and displayed. The period of study is from January 2018 to 2021 December. This is a retrospective cross-sectional continuous observational qualitative and quantitative as well as comparative study. The two years of covid-19 pandemic i.e. 2020 and 2021 is compared two previous two years to know the impact of covid-19 on violence against women in India.Materials & MethodologyThe data is collected from accredited and reliable sources of National commission for women, India as well as various other sources listed in this research study. The data obtained is analysed by using Microsoft Office software. To reduce the length of article the detailed description and analysis is not provided in this version.ResultIncrease in violence against women in India is seen in this covid-19 pandemic era as compared to pre-pandemic years under observation. See Figure 1 and figure 2:- comparison of number of cases of domestic violence and various forms of violence to know the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and lockdown situations in India. During the second year of pandemic i.e. 2021 the total numbers of Nature-Wise Report of the Complaints Received by NCW was 30865 which is an increase by 55.03 % compared to 2018 and 56.43 % as compared to 2019.ConclusionIndia should have various strategies to ensure safety of women and their mental health issues in such pandemic like situations. It seems that present laws and regulations are insufficient to give the desired results. The barriers of legal and protective system and delivery of helpful services etc. constraints should be rectified added with a proper dynamic plan to carry on usual women protection services even in pandemics and natural disasters.