Redefining the setting of intervention in combating violence against women: The voice of professionals in emergencies


Abstract


Gender-based violence (GBV) is a worldwide phenomenon, comparable to global epidemics and pandemics. The most widespread form of violence is domestic violence (DV). During the COVID-19 pandemic, DV increased because the former reinforced the underlying risk factors. The most appropriate model to address GBV is the ecological model, which allows addressing individual, relational, collective, and organisational levels of analysis and their interaction. Aim of the study was to identify organizational dimensions to improve the effectiveness of services against GBV in emergencies. To this end, ten professionals from gender-based anti-violence services who served during the lock-out were interviewed. The interviews were conducted and analysed through Thematic Analysis Methodology. Results show that during the pandemic many difficulties arose in the organisation of interventions and settings, and new potentials emerged too, especially in remote work, which offered new possibilities to reorganise the services work. The pandemic results highlight methods and strategies that can be applied to develop an operational model to deal with violence against people during emergencies


DOI Code: 10.1285/i24212113v10i2p157

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Covid-19 Pandemic, Organisational Level, Operational Model, Reorganisation of dedicated services

References


Arcidiacono, C. (2012). The focused interview as a tool to overcome closures and misunderstandings in intercultural dynamics. In D. Giovannini e L. Vezzali (Ed.), Immigration, Intercultural Processes and Active Citizenship (pp. 373–384). Melagrana.

Autiero, M., Procentese, F., Carnevale, S., Arcidiacono, C., & Di Napoli, I. (2020). Combatting intimate partner violence: Representations of social and healthcare personnel working with gender-based violence interventions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), 5543. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155543

Baldry, A. Costanza (2016). From abuse to homicide: The risk assessment of recidivism and uxoricide. Franco Angeli.

Baum, N. (2010). Shared traumatic reality in communal disasters: Toward a conceptualization. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, and Practice, 47(2), 249 259. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019784

Boserup, B., McKenney, M., & Elkbuli, A. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department visits and patient safety in the United States. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 38(9), 1732-1736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2020.06.007

Bourdieu, P. (1990). La domination masculine. Actes de la Recherche en Sciences Sociales, 84(1), 2-31

Bozzaotra, A., Autiero, M., Capasso, A., Gargiulo, A., Gerli, F., & Vasto, G. (2020). Oltre La Violenza ai tempi dell’emergenza Covid-19. La Camera Blu. Rivista di Studi di Genere, (22). https://doi.org/10.6092/1827-9198/6802

Bradbury‐Jones, C., & Isham, L. (2020). The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(13-14), 2047. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15296

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Bright, C. F., Burton, C., & Kosky, M. (2020). Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 2(1), 100069.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100069

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. International Encyclopedia of Education, 3(2), 37-43.

Buller, A. M., Peterman, A., Ranganathan, M., Bleile, A., Hidrobo, M., & Heise, L. (2018). A mixed-method review of cash transfers and intimate partner violence in low-and middle-income countries. The World Bank Research Observer, 33(2), 218-258. https://doi.org/10.1093/wbro/lky002

Campbell, A. M. (2020). An increasing risk of family violence during the Covid-19 pandemic: Strengthening community collaborations to save lives. Forensic Science International: reports, 2, 100089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2020.100089

Caridade, S. M. M., Saavedra, R., Ribeiro, R., Oliveira, A. C., Santos, M., Almeida, I. S., & Soeiro, C. (2021). Remote support to victims of violence against women and domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of Adult Protection, 23(5), 302-316. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JAP-04-2021-0015

Carnevale, S., Di Napoli, I., Esposito, C., Arcidiacono, C., & Procentese, F. (2020). Children witnessing domestic violence in the voice of health and social professionals dealing with contrasting gender violence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 4463. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124463

Chandan, J. S., Taylor, J., Bradbury-Jones, C., Nirantharakumar, K., Kane, E., & Bandyopadhyay, S. (2020). COVID-19: a public health approach to manage domestic violence is needed. The Lancet Public Health, 5(6), e309. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30112-2

Cluver, L., Lachman, J. M., Sherr, L., Wessels, I., Krug, E., Rakotomalala, S., ... & McDonald, K. (2020). Parenting in a time of COVID-19. Lancet, 395(10231). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30736-4

CoMmonwealth Bank Group (2020). An early look at how the Coronavirus is affecting household spending Global Economic & Markets Research.Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.commbank.com.au/guidance/business/an‐early‐look‐at‐how‐the‐coronavirus‐is‐affecting‐household‐spen‐202003.html

Council of Europe (CoE) (2011). Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence ("Istanbul Convention"). Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://rm.coe.int/1680096e46

Deriu M. (Ed.) (2012). Il continente sconosciuto. Gli uomini e la violenza maschile. Centro stampa Regione Emilia Romagna.

Di Napoli, I., Procentese, F., Carnevale, S., Esposito, C., & Arcidiacono, C. (2019). Ending intimate partner violence (IPV) and locating men at stake: An ecological approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(9), 1652. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091652

Dlamini, N. J. (2021). Gender-based violence, twin pandemic to COVID-19. Critical Sociology, 47(4-5), 583-590. https://doi.org/10.1177/0896920520975465

Drieskens, S., Braekman, E., Ridder, K. D., Gisle, L., Charafeddine, R., Hermans, L., & Demarest, S. (2022). Domestic violence during the COVID-19 confinement: Do victims feel more socially isolated?. Archives of Public Health, 80(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-021-00765-3

Eigenberg, H., & Policastro, C. (2016). Blaming victims in cases of interpersonal violence: Attitudes associated with assigning blame to female victims. Women & Criminal Justice, 26(1), 37-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2014.997417

El‐Serag, R., & Thurston, R. C. (2020). Matters of the heart and mind: Interpersonal violence and cardiovascular disease in women. Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(4), e015479. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.015479

Emezue, C. (2020). Digital or digitally delivered responses to domestic and intimate partner violence during COVID-19. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 6(3), e19831. https://doi.org/10.2196/19831

Enarson, E. (1999). Violence against women in disasters: A study of domestic violence programs in the United States and Canada. Violence Against Women, 5(7), 742-768.

Fielding, S. (2020). In quarantine with an abuser: surge in domestic violence reports linked to coronavirus. The Guardian, 3. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/03/coronavirus-quarantine-abuse-domestic-violence

First, J. M., First, N. L., & Houston, J. B. (2017). Intimate partner violence and disasters: A framework for empowering women experiencing violence in disaster settings. Affilia, 32(3), 390-403. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886109917706338

Fitz-Gibbon, K., Burley, J., & Meyer, S. (2020). How do we keep family violence perpetrators “in view” during the COVID-19 lockdown. The Conversation. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-keep-family-violence-perpetrators-in-view-during-the-covid-19-lockdown-135942

Fraser, E. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on violence against women and girls. UKAid VAWG Helpdesk Research Report, 284. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, https://gbvguidelines.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/vawg-helpdesk-284-covid-19-and-vawg.pdf

García-Moreno, C., Hegarty, K., d'Oliveira, A. F. L., Koziol-McLain, J., Colombini, M., & Feder, G. (2015). The health-systems response to violence against women. The Lancet, 385(9977), 1567-1579. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61837-7

Gearhart, S., Perez-Patron, M., Hammond, T. A., Goldberg, D. W., Klein, A., & Horney, J. A. (2018). The impact of natural disasters on domestic violence: An analysis of reports of simple assault in Florida (1999–2007). Violence and Gender, 5(2), 87-92. https://doi.org/10.1089/vio.2017.0077

Guedes, A., Bott, S., Garcia-Moreno, C., & Colombini, M. (2016). Bridging the gaps: a global review of intersections of violence against women and violence against children. Global Health Action, 9(1), 31516. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v9.31516

Hall, J. E., Walters, M. L., & Basile, K. C. (2012). Intimate partner violence perpetration by court-ordered men: Distinctions among subtypes of physical violence, sexual violence, psychological abuse, and stalking. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(7), 1374-1395. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626051142524

Hammoudeh, W., Kienzler, H., Meagher, K., & Giacaman, R. (2020). Social and political determinants of health in the occupied Palestine territory (oPt) during the COVID-19 pandemic: who is responsible?. BMJ Global Health, 5(9), e003683. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003683.

Hansson, K., & Bjarnason, E. (2018). Context Collapse in Healthcare: When the Professional and the Social Meet. In S. Schaefer, M. Andersson, E. Bjarnason, & K. Hansson (Eds.), Working and Organizing in the Digital Age (pp. 61-69). The Pufendorf Institute for Advanced Studies, Lund University, Sweden.

Hegarty, K., McKibbin, G., Hameed, M., Koziol-McLain, J., Feder, G., Tarzia, L., & Hooker, L. (2020). Health professionals' readiness to address domestic violence and abuse: a qualitative meta-synthesis. PLoS one, 15(6), e0234067. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234067

Hinsliff‐Smith, K., & McGarry, J. (2017). Understanding management and support for domestic violence and abuse within emergency departments: A systematic literature review from 2000–2015. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(23-24), 4013-4027. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13849

Howard, L. M., Wilson, C. A., & Chandra, P. S. (2022). Intimate partner violence and mental health: Lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic. World Psychiatry, 21(2), 311. doi:10.1002/wps.20976

ISTAT (2021). L’effetto della pandemia sulla violenza di genere anno 2020-2021. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.istat.it/it/files/2021/11/EFFETTI_PANDEMIA_-VIOLENZA_D_GENERE.pdf

Jiménez-Rodríguez, D., Belmonte García, M. T., Santillán García, A., Plaza Del Pino, F. J., Ponce-Valencia, A., & Arrogante, O. (2020). Nurse training in gender-based violence using simulated nursing video consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 8654. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228654

Mahamid, F., Veronese, G. & Bdier, D. (2022). Gender-based violence experiences among Palestinian women during the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health professionals’ perceptions and concerns. Confl Health 16, 13 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-022-00444-2

Marques, E. S., Moraes, C. L. D., Hasselmann, M. H., Deslandes, S. F., & Reichenheim, M. E. (2020). Violence against women, children, and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: overview, contributing factors, and mitigating measures. Cadernos De Saude Publica, 36. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00074420

Mazza, M., Marano, G., Lai, C., Janiri, L., & Sani, G. (2020). Danger in danger: Interpersonal violence during COVID-19 quarantine. Psychiatry Research, 289, 113046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113046

Morgan, A., & Boxall, H. (2020). Social isolation, time spent at home, financial stress and domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, (609), 1-18. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.531971348048062

Murhula, P. B. B., Singh, S. B., & Myende, S. M. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on gender-based violence: A global review and analysis. International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 16(1), 84-96. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4762356

Myhill, A., & Hohl, K. (2019). The “golden thread”: Coercive control and risk assessment for domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(21-22), 4477-4497. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260516675464

Nabukeera, M. (2021). Prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV) during novel Covid-19 lock-down in Uganda. The Journal of Adult Protection, 23(2), 116-133. https://doi.org/10.1177/0896920520975465

Nagashima-Hayashi, M., Durrance-Bagale, A., Marzouk, M., Ung, M., Lam, S. T., Neo, P., & Howard, N. (2022). Gender-based violence in the Asia-Pacific region during COVID-19: a hidden pandemic behind closed doors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 2239. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042239

Ndlovu, S., Mulondo, M., Tsoka-Gwegweni, J., & Ndirangu, J. (2022). COVID-19 impact on gender-based violence among women in South Africa during lockdown: A narrative review. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 26(7), 59-71. DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2022/v26i7.7

Oram, S., Khalifeh, H., & Howard, L. M. (2017). Violence against women and mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(2), 159-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30261-9

Owen, L. (2020). Coronavirus: Five ways virus upheaval is hitting women in Asia. BBC World Service. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51705199

Parkinson, D. (2019). Investigating the increase in domestic violence post disaster: An Australian case study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(11), 2333-2362. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517696876

Parkinson, D., & Zara, C. (2013). The hidden disaster: Domestic violence in the aftermath of natural disaster. The Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 28(2), 28-35. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.364519372739042

Parkinson, F. (2000). Post trauma stress: A personal guide to reduce the long term effects and hidden damagecaused by violence and disaster. Fisher Book.

Parolari, P. (2014). La violenza contro le donne come questione (trans) culturale. Osservazioni sulla Convenzione di Istanbul. Diritto e Questioni Pubbliche, 14(1), 859-890. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://iris.unibs.it/retrieve/handle/11379/459196/66558/Parolari_La%20violenza%20contro%20le%20donne%20come%20questione%20%28trans%29culturale.pdf

Peterman, A., Potts, A., O'Donnell, M., Thompson, K., Shah, N., Oertelt-Prigione, S., & Van Gelder, N. (2020). Pandemics and violence against women and children (Vol. 528, pp. 1-45). Center for Global Development.

Petersson, C. C., & Hansson, K. (2022). Social work responses to domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences and perspectives of professionals at women’s shelters in Sweden. Clinical Social Work Journal, 50(2), 135-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-022-00833-3

Pfitzner, N., Fitz‐Gibbon, K., & Meyer, S. (2022). Responding to women experiencing domestic and family violence during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Exploring experiences and impacts of remote service delivery in Australia. Child & Family Social Work, 27(1), 30-40. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12870

Procentese, F., Gatti, F., & Ceglie, E. (2021). Sensemaking processes during the first months of COVID-19 pandemic: Using diaries to deepen how Italian youths experienced lockdown measures. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12569. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312569

Procentese, F., Esposito, C., Gonzalez Leone, F., Agueli, B., Arcidiacono, C., Freda, M. F., & Di Napoli, I. (2021). Psychological lockdown experiences: Downtime or an unexpected time for being?. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 577089. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.577089

Procentese, F., Di Napoli, I., Tuccillo, F., Chiurazzi, A., &; Arcidiacono, C. (2019). Healthcare professionals’ perceptions and concerns towards domestic violence during pregnancy in Southern Italy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(17), 3087. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173087

Procentese, F. (2012). Gender asymmetry in engagement. Male narratives of violence and power. In C. Arcidiacono, & I. Di Napoli (Eds.), I fell down the stairs: The places and actors of gender-based violence (Vol. 40). FrancoAngeli.

Richards, L. (2009). Domestic abuse, stalking and harassment and honour based violence (DASH, 2009) risk identification and assessment and management model. Association of Police Officers (ACPO). Retrieved May, 30, 2023 from: https://reducingtherisk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DASH-2009.pdf

Rieger, A., Blackburn, A. M., Bystrynski, J. B., Garthe, R. C., & Allen, N. E. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence in the United States: Framework and policy recommendations. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14(3), 471. https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2022/v26i7.7

Roesch, E., Amin, A., Gupta, J., & García-Moreno, C. (2020). Violence against women during covid-19 pandemic restrictions. BMJ, 369. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1712

Saakvite, K. W. (2002). Shared trauma: The therapist’s increased vulnerability. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 12(3), 443–449. https://doi.org/10.1080/10481881209348678

Sacco, M. A., Caputo, F., Ricci, P., Sicilia, F., De Aloe, L., Bonetta, C. F., ... & Aquila, I. (2020). The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on domestic violence: The dark side of home isolation during quarantine. Medico-Legal Journal, 88(2), 71-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/0025817220930553

Sharma, A., & Borah, S. B. (2020). Covid-19 and domestic violence: an indirect path to social and economic crisis. Journal of Family Violence, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00188-8

Sharma, V., Ausubel, E., Heckman, C., Patrick, E., Save, D., & Kelly, J. T. (2021). Mitigating gender-based violence risk in the context of COVID-19: lessons from humanitarian crises. BMJ Global Health, 6(3), e005448. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005448

Simonovic D. (2020). States must combat domestic violence in the context of COVID-19 lockdowns—UN Rights Expert. United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/03/states-must-combat-domestic-violence-context-covid-19-lockdowns-un-rights

Sinko, L., & Saint Arnault, D. (2020). Finding the strength to heal: Understanding recovery after gender-based violence. Violence Against Women, 26(12-13), 1616-1635. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801219885185

Stark, E. (2009). Coercive control: The entrapment of women in personal life. Oxford University Press.

Stark, E. (2007). Coercive control: How men entrap women in personal life. Oxford University Press.

Steketee, M., De Wildt, R., Compagner, M., Van der Hoff, M., & Tierolf, B. (2020). Kwetsbare gezinnen in tijden van Corona. Verwey-Jonker Instituut.

Stolper, E., Verdenius, J. P., Dinant, G. J., & van de Wiel, M. (2021). Wat doen huisartsen bij een vermoeden van kindermishandeling? Huisarts en Wetenschap, 64, 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12445-021-1047-9 .

Suffla, S., Seedat, M., & Bawa, U. (2015). Reflexivity as enactment of critical community psychologies: dilemmas of voice and positionality in a multi-country photovoice study. Journal of Community Psychology, 43(1), 9-21. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.21691

Tosone, C., & Bloomberg, S. (2022). Shared trauma: An essential construct for challenging times. In A. Goelitz (Ed.), Shared mass trauma in social work (pp. 3-18). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003176947

True, J. (2013). Gendered violence in natural disasters: Learning from New Orleans, Haiti and Christchurch. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 25(2), 78-89. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.623648104026830

UN WOMEN. (2019). Annual report 2018-2019. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2019/06/annual-report-2018-2019

UN Women. (2020). Violence against women and girls: the shadow pandemic, 2020. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/4/statement-ed-phumzile-violence-against-women-during-pandemic

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family planning and ending gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and child marriage. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://www.unfpa.org/resources/impact-covid-19-pandemic-family-planning-and-ending-gender-based-violence-female-genital

UNO WOMEN (2020). COVID-19: Only one in eight countries worldwide have measures in place to protect women against social and economic impacts, new data shows. Retrieved May, 30, 2023 https://www.unwomen.org/es/news/stories/2020/9/press-release-launch-of-covid-19-global-gender-response-tracker. Online access from 28 September 2020

Usher, K., Bhullar, N., Durkin, J., Gyamfi, N., & Jackson, D. (2020). Family violence and COVID‐19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(4), 549. https:// doi: 10.1111/inm.12735

van Gelder, N. E., van Haalen, D. L., Ekker, K., Ligthart, S. A., & Oertelt-Prigione, S. (2021). Professionals’ views on working in the field of domestic violence and abuse during the first wave of COVID-19: A qualitative study in the Netherlands. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06674-z

Van Gelder, N., Peterman, A., Potts, A., O'Donnell, M., Thompson, K., Shah, N., & Oertelt-Prigione, S. (2020). COVID-19: Reducing the risk of infection might increase the risk of intimate partner violence. EClinicalMedicine, 21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100348

Vieira, C. M., Franco, O. H., Restrepo, C. G., & Abel, T. (2020). COVID-19: The forgotten priorities of the pandemic. Maturitas, 136, 38-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.04.004

World Health Organization (2013). Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/85239/9789241564625_eng.pdf?sequence=1

World Health Organization (2020). COVID-19 and violence against women: what the health sector/system can do. Retrieved May, 30, 2023, from https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/331699/WHO-SRH-20.04-eng.pdf?sequence=1


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 3.0 Italia License.