College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
J Interpers Violence. 2022 Jul;37(13-14):NP11811-NP11835. doi: 10.1177/0886260521997929. Epub 2021 Feb 26.
There is increasing concern about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown's social and economic consequences on gender-based violence. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence by comparing the prevalence of spousal violence against women before and during the COVID-19 related lockdown periods. This study was conducted in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq using a self-administered online questionnaire survey after the COVID-19 lockdown period in June 2020. Data were collected from a sample of 346 married women about the occurrence, frequency, and forms of spousal violence before and during the lockdown period. Significant increases in violence were observed from the pre-lockdown period to the lockdown period for any violence (32.1% to 38.7%, = .001), emotional abuse (29.5% to 35.0%, = .005), and physical violence (12.7% to 17.6%, = .002). Regarding emotional abuse, humiliation (24.6% to 28.3%, = .041) and scaring or intimidation (14.2% to 21.4%, < .001) significantly increased during the lockdown. For physical violence, twisting the arm or pulling hair (9.0% to 13.0%, = .004) and hitting (5.2% to 9.2%, = .003) significantly increased during the lockdown. Forcing to have sexual intercourse also significantly increased during lockdown (6.6% to 9.5%., = .021). The concerned authorities and women's rights organizations should collaborate to enhance the prevention of violence against women. An effective prevention strategy should emphasize recognizing and acknowledging the extent of the problem, raising awareness about the problem and the available resources to address it, and ensuring social and economic stability. Lessons learned about the increased prevalence of spousal violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to adopt appropriate strategies to prevent and address it will be valuable for similar future crises.
人们越来越关注 COVID-19 大流行和封锁对基于性别的暴力的社会和经济影响。本研究旨在通过比较 COVID-19 相关封锁期间和之前配偶暴力侵害妇女的流行率来评估 COVID-19 大流行对基于性别的暴力的影响。本研究在 2020 年 6 月 COVID-19 封锁后在伊拉克库尔德斯坦地区使用在线自我管理问卷进行。从 346 名已婚妇女中收集了关于封锁前和封锁期间配偶暴力的发生、频率和形式的数据。在任何暴力（32.1% 至 38.7%， =.001）、情绪虐待（29.5% 至 35.0%， =.005）和身体暴力（12.7% 至 17.6%， =.002）方面，观察到从封锁前到封锁期间暴力显著增加。在情绪虐待方面，侮辱（24.6% 至 28.3%， =.041）和恐吓或威胁（14.2% 至 21.4%， <.001）在封锁期间显著增加。对于身体暴力，扭臂或拉头发（9.0% 至 13.0%， =.004）和打人（5.2% 至 9.2%， =.003）在封锁期间显著增加。强迫发生性关系在封锁期间也显著增加（6.6% 至 9.5%， =.021）。有关当局和妇女权利组织应合作加强预防暴力侵害妇女行为。有效的预防战略应强调认识和承认问题的严重程度，提高对问题及其解决资源的认识，并确保社会和经济稳定。从 COVID-19 大流行期间配偶暴力侵害妇女的流行率增加以及需要采取适当战略来预防和解决这一问题中学到的经验教训，对于类似的未来危机将是宝贵的。
