Prevalence and risk factors of violence against women and children during COVID-19, Germany.
Bull World Health Organ
; 99(6): 429-438, 2021 Jun 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1256316
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the prevalence and exacerbating factors of violence against women and children in Germany during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.METHODS:
We conducted a representative online survey with partnered women (18-65 years) between 22 April and 8 May 2020, when participants had been under lockdown for a month. We determined the prevalence of several forms of violence within the previous month using both direct elicitation and a list experiment. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression to assess the impact of pandemic-associated risk factors.FINDINGS:
Of our 3818 survey respondents, 118 (3.09%; 95% confidence interval, CI 2.54 to 3.64) reported incidents of physical conflict, 293 (7.67%; 95% CI 6.83 to 8.52) reported emotional abuse, and 97 (6.58%; 95% CI 5.31 to 7.85) of 1474 respondents with children reported child corporal punishment. We estimated that 3.57% (95% CI -0.33 to 7.46) had non-consensual intercourse with their partner. Our regression analysis revealed an increased risk of physical conflict with home quarantine (odds ratio, OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.56 to 3.61), financial worries (OR 1.60; 95% CI 0.98 to 2.61), poor mental health (OR 3.41; 95% CI 2.12 to 5.50) and young (< 10 years) children (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.32 to 4.64); we obtained similar results for other forms of violence. Awareness and use of pertinent support services was low.CONCLUSION:
Our findings of an increased risk of domestic violence during the pandemic should prompt policy-makers to improve the safety of women and children. Interventions to alleviate risks factors and extend support services are required.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Child Abuse
/
Intimate Partner Violence
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Bull World Health Organ
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
BLT.20.270983
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