Gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objectives: todescribethe gender-basedviolence (GBV)scenario during the COVID-19 pandemic in European Union countries and theUnitedStates describingtheincidenceofGBV, identifyingthe risk factors exacerbated, detecting the consequences of the pandemic in women, learning about plans ofaction anddetection for GBV, and understanding the view by the healthcare staff. Method: a narrative review through search in the PubMed, CINAHL, Cuiden and Cochrane databases. The study included results regarding violence against women associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and with study populations from Europe or the United States. Data from the statistical website of the Ministry for Equality of the Government of Spain were also included. Opinion articles were excluded. Results: in total, 179 results were retrieved, and 24 of these were finally analysed. The incidence of GBV increased by 10.2-59%, andthere was an increase in the number oftelephone and online consultations up to 182.93% in Spain. Lockdown at home has exacerbatedthe risk factors for GBVsuchas isolation and control, and there has been a negative impact on the mental health of women, as well as on their employment rate. Interventions for detecting GBV have been implemented in many countries, although healthcare professionals state that they findit difficult to dealwiththe victims both personally, due to the protection equipment, as by video-consultation or phone call, due to the lack of non-verbal treatment. Conclusions: the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated an increase in GBV by increasing the constant control by the aggressor and the lack of community resources. © 2022 DAE Editorial, Grupo Paradigma. All rights reserved.