Paul Andrew Bourne

Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica

Title: An evaluation of domestic violence against jamaican women during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The first COVID-19 case in Jamaica was in March 2020; it has been an issue since then. Objectives: This study seeks to:  (1) determine the relationship of demographic characteristics of the respondents and domestic violence during Covid-19, (2) examine the factors that contribute to Jamaican women being victims of domestic violence, and (3) evaluate whether domestic violence against Jamaican women has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and materials: This study employed a quantitative web-based, non-probability, cross-sectional and associational research design. Researchers conducted a random sampling correlation research design to collect data from 513 Jamaican women 18 years and older across the island using a standardized survey created using Google Forms.  The Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 25.0 with 95% confidence interval provided analysis of the collected data. 
Findings:  Of the sampled respondents (n=505), 32% indicated being victims of domestic violence, with 60% reported being physically abused, 8.9% reported sexual abuse, and 31.1% reported being emotionally abused. Of the total sampled respondents, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 49% of them frequently experienced domestic violence compared to 53.1% during COVID-19. The majority of women who reported having a personality disorder (63.6%) were domestically abused compared to other women.  Furthermore, of the 513 Jamaican women surveyed, 46.9% were between ages 18-25 years, 46.9 % employed, 68.8% lived in rural communities, and 53.8% had a tertiary level education.  In addition, most perpetrators of domestic violence were boyfriends (98%) compared to husbands (89.7%) followed by family members (79.3%). 
Conclusion: Intimate partner violence has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic, which means the home has become a battleground for women. Such a stark reality indicates that this public health matter requires immediate attention to mitigate further increase amid ongoing “stay at home orders” and social isolation. 

Biography

To be added