Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence, 2019-2022.

This study examined domestic violence against girls, women, and older adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2022. Overall domestic violence rates decreased from 383.5 to 150.7 cases per 100,000 population, but researchers believe this reflects underreporting rather than actual reduction due to pandemic mobility restrictions. Sexual violence was most common among girls, physical violence among adult women, and financial and emotional abuse increased among older women. Adult and older women faced significantly higher risks of violence compared to girls.

Key points

• Domestic violence rate declined from 383.5 per 100,000 in pre-pandemic to 150.7 per 100,000 in post-pandemic period
• Sexual violence was most frequent type affecting girls; physical violence most frequent among adult women
• Among older women, abuse and financial abuse increased during the first year of pandemic
• Adult women had 6.35 times greater risk of violence and older women 3.7 times greater risk compared to girls
• The apparent reduction in cases likely reflects underreporting due to mobility restrictions rather than true decline

Limitations

The document does not specify the geographic location of the study, making it impossible to assess regional applicability. The study is ecological in design and cannot establish individual-level causal relationships, and the authors acknowledge that reported case reductions may reflect underreporting rather than true epidemiological changes.