Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative study
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic may increase risk of intimate partner and sexual violence and make relevant services less accessible. This study explored the perspectives of intimate partner and sexual violence workers across Canada on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the survivors w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01683-4 |
| _version_ | 1818021917929504768 |
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| author | Sonia Michaelsen Hervé Djiofack Elisabeth Nombro Olivier Ferlatte Bilkis Vissandjée Christina Zarowsky |
| author_facet | Sonia Michaelsen Hervé Djiofack Elisabeth Nombro Olivier Ferlatte Bilkis Vissandjée Christina Zarowsky |
| author_sort | Sonia Michaelsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic may increase risk of intimate partner and sexual violence and make relevant services less accessible. This study explored the perspectives of intimate partner and sexual violence workers across Canada on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the survivors with whom they work. Methods Using a qualitative descriptive design, we interviewed 17 management and frontline staff of organizations supporting survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence across Canada. Results: We identified 4 themes that describe the impacts of COVID-19 on intimate partner and sexual violence survivors, from the perspective of service providers: (1) No escape; (2) Isolation; (3) Tough decisions; and (4) Heightened vulnerability. These narrative findings are presented first, followed by an analysis within a social determinants of health framework. Interpreting our findings against such a framework revealed a complex interplay of social determinants, notably social support, access to services, and poverty, that produced several challenges for intimate partner and sexual violence survivors during COVID-19. Conclusion According to service providers, intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada faced several challenges during the pandemic, including reduced ability to escape their situations, increased isolation, increasingly complex decisions, and heightened vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate the critical need to adopt a broader, more holistic approach in tackling intimate partner and sexual violence by also addressing socioeconomic issues such as poverty and marginalization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T08:24:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be1248bd1e1c4100b8c9cafd4c758bed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T08:24:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-be1248bd1e1c4100b8c9cafd4c758bed2022-12-22T02:04:06ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742022-04-0122111310.1186/s12905-022-01683-4Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative studySonia Michaelsen0Hervé Djiofack1Elisabeth Nombro2Olivier Ferlatte3Bilkis Vissandjée4Christina Zarowsky5École de Santé Publique, Université de MontréalÉcole de Santé Publique, Université de MontréalFaculty of Education, University of New BrunswickÉcole de Santé Publique, Université de MontréalÉcole de Santé Publique, Université de MontréalÉcole de Santé Publique, Université de MontréalAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic may increase risk of intimate partner and sexual violence and make relevant services less accessible. This study explored the perspectives of intimate partner and sexual violence workers across Canada on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the survivors with whom they work. Methods Using a qualitative descriptive design, we interviewed 17 management and frontline staff of organizations supporting survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence across Canada. Results: We identified 4 themes that describe the impacts of COVID-19 on intimate partner and sexual violence survivors, from the perspective of service providers: (1) No escape; (2) Isolation; (3) Tough decisions; and (4) Heightened vulnerability. These narrative findings are presented first, followed by an analysis within a social determinants of health framework. Interpreting our findings against such a framework revealed a complex interplay of social determinants, notably social support, access to services, and poverty, that produced several challenges for intimate partner and sexual violence survivors during COVID-19. Conclusion According to service providers, intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada faced several challenges during the pandemic, including reduced ability to escape their situations, increased isolation, increasingly complex decisions, and heightened vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate the critical need to adopt a broader, more holistic approach in tackling intimate partner and sexual violence by also addressing socioeconomic issues such as poverty and marginalization.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01683-4COVID-19Frontline workersIntimate partner violenceSexual violenceCanada |
| spellingShingle | Sonia Michaelsen Hervé Djiofack Elisabeth Nombro Olivier Ferlatte Bilkis Vissandjée Christina Zarowsky Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative study BMC Women's Health COVID-19 Frontline workers Intimate partner violence Sexual violence Canada |
| title | Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Service provider perspectives on how COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in Canada: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | service provider perspectives on how covid 19 and pandemic restrictions have affected intimate partner and sexual violence survivors in canada a qualitative study |
| topic | COVID-19 Frontline workers Intimate partner violence Sexual violence Canada |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01683-4 |
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