ABSTRACT
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health challenge. IPV hotlines in high-income settings have reported rising numbers of calls in the COVID-19 pandemic era. However, no systematic studies to examine prevalence and risk factors of IPV have transpired. We investigated the prevalence, pattern, and socioeconomic risk factors of IPV pre- and six months after the onset of pandemic (hereafter post-pandemic) among a cohort of Iranian women.Methods: Our population-based IPV survey was conducted before the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran, when we interviewed 2502 partnered Iranian women aged 18-60 years. We conducted a follow-up measurement six months later (n=2116). Prevalence and first-time incidence (FTI) of psychological, physical, and sexual IPV and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) and their 95% CI were estimated.Results: The post-pandemic prevalence of IPV (65∙4%; CI: 63∙4%- 67∙4%) was higher than pre-pandemic prevalence (54∙2%; CI: 52∙2%- 56∙3%). At follow up, FTI of IPV was 25∙5% (CI: 22∙9%- 28∙4%). The highest increase of FTI was observed in cases of physical and sexual IPV. Being employed was correlated with IPV (OR: 0∙42; CI: 0∙25- 0∙68). Having the highest socioeconomic status (OR: 0∙04; CI: 0∙01- 0∙17) and a full-time employed partner (OR: 0∙02; CI: 0∙01- 0∙03) were correlated with physical IPV.Interpretation: The prevalence and severity of IPV have increased following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment of women or their partners and pre-pandemic lower socioeconomic status are risk factors of IPV against women without previous experience of IPV. Monitoring programs should target these populations to prevent IPV. Guidelines for addressing IPV in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic need to be adapted for low- and middle-income countries.Funding: Vice-Chancellor for Research, Shiraz University of Medical SciencesDeclaration of Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (IR.SUMS.MED.REC.1399.301).