Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background While it is necessary to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, efforts including social isolation, restricted travel, and school closures are anticipated to raise the probability of domestic violence (DV). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, pattern, r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00117-1 |
| _version_ | 1798016916285030400 |
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| author | Noha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid Shaimaa A. Shehata Haydy Hassan Sayed Heba Saber Mohammed Zeinab F. Abdel-Fatah |
| author_facet | Noha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid Shaimaa A. Shehata Haydy Hassan Sayed Heba Saber Mohammed Zeinab F. Abdel-Fatah |
| author_sort | Noha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background While it is necessary to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, efforts including social isolation, restricted travel, and school closures are anticipated to raise the probability of domestic violence (DV). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, pattern, risk factors, and physical health outcomes of domestic violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenient sample. The data collection tool was based on Sect. 11 of the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey, 2014, which is designed to measure domestic violence. We used a Google form-designed questionnaire and distributed the link to social media platforms from May 2020 to June 2020 till the collection of the required sample of 388 completed questionnaires. Results The prevalence of every form of DV was 31%. Emotional violence was the most prevalent (43.5%) followed by physical (38.9%) and sexual violence (17.5%). About 10.5% of women reported suffering from all types of violence. The husband was the most common perpetrator of DV. The determinants of ever experiencing any form of DV were low education level of women (OR = 7.3, 95% CI 2.8–18.8), unemployment (OR = 2.31, 95% CI 4–3.5), husband’s use of alcohol or substance (OR = 14.4, 95% CI 4.1–50.2), and insufficient income (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 2–3.2). The most common health consequences of DV were injuries such as cuts, bruises, and aches. Conclusions The prevalence of ever experiencing any form of DV was 31% which is considered high. Emotional violence was the most common whereas sexual violence was the least common. Identifying the risk factors of DV would support the development and implementation of preventive and screening programs for early identification and offering social support to the victims. Policies should be adopted for the early detection and protection of women suffering from violent behaviors. Access to adequate prompt support and health-care services is crucial in order to decrease the consequences of violence. It is necessary to implement alcohol or drug abuse interventions, preventive measures, and screening programs in families to reduce DV. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:58:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5755e7f561349e693dcb013c3157309 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2090-262X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:58:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5755e7f561349e693dcb013c31573092022-12-22T04:15:06ZengSpringerOpenJournal of the Egyptian Public Health Association2090-262X2022-11-0197111210.1186/s42506-022-00117-1Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional studyNoha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid0Shaimaa A. Shehata1Haydy Hassan Sayed2Heba Saber Mohammed3Zeinab F. Abdel-Fatah4Department of Public Health, Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Fox SquareDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal UniversityDepartment of Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Fox SquareAbstract Background While it is necessary to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, efforts including social isolation, restricted travel, and school closures are anticipated to raise the probability of domestic violence (DV). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, pattern, risk factors, and physical health outcomes of domestic violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenient sample. The data collection tool was based on Sect. 11 of the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey, 2014, which is designed to measure domestic violence. We used a Google form-designed questionnaire and distributed the link to social media platforms from May 2020 to June 2020 till the collection of the required sample of 388 completed questionnaires. Results The prevalence of every form of DV was 31%. Emotional violence was the most prevalent (43.5%) followed by physical (38.9%) and sexual violence (17.5%). About 10.5% of women reported suffering from all types of violence. The husband was the most common perpetrator of DV. The determinants of ever experiencing any form of DV were low education level of women (OR = 7.3, 95% CI 2.8–18.8), unemployment (OR = 2.31, 95% CI 4–3.5), husband’s use of alcohol or substance (OR = 14.4, 95% CI 4.1–50.2), and insufficient income (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 2–3.2). The most common health consequences of DV were injuries such as cuts, bruises, and aches. Conclusions The prevalence of ever experiencing any form of DV was 31% which is considered high. Emotional violence was the most common whereas sexual violence was the least common. Identifying the risk factors of DV would support the development and implementation of preventive and screening programs for early identification and offering social support to the victims. Policies should be adopted for the early detection and protection of women suffering from violent behaviors. Access to adequate prompt support and health-care services is crucial in order to decrease the consequences of violence. It is necessary to implement alcohol or drug abuse interventions, preventive measures, and screening programs in families to reduce DV.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00117-1Domestic violenceCOVID-19PrevalenceRisk factorsWomenEgypt |
| spellingShingle | Noha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid Shaimaa A. Shehata Haydy Hassan Sayed Heba Saber Mohammed Zeinab F. Abdel-Fatah Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association Domestic violence COVID-19 Prevalence Risk factors Women Egypt |
| title | Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | domestic violence against women during coronavirus covid 19 pandemic lockdown in egypt a cross sectional study |
| topic | Domestic violence COVID-19 Prevalence Risk factors Women Egypt |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-022-00117-1 |
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