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Intimate Partners Violence against Women during a COVID-19 Lockdown Period: Results of an Online Survey in 7 Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Author

Listed:
  • John D. Ditekemena

    (Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Congo)

  • Christophe Luhata

    (Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Congo)

  • Hypolite M. Mavoko

    (Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Congo)

  • Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo

    (Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Dalau M. Nkamba

    (Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Congo
    Pôle d’Épidémiologie et Biostatistique, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1348 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Wim Van Damme

    (Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Shahul H. Ebrahim

    (Technique and Technology, University of Sciences, Bamako 1805, Mali)

  • Christiana Noestlinger

    (Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Robert Colebunders

    (Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

Abstract

Intimate Partners’ Violence (IPV) is a public health problem with long-lasting mental and physical health consequences for victims and their families. As evidence has been increasing that COVID-19 lockdown measures may exacerbate IPV, our study sought to describe the magnitude of IPV in women and identify associated determinants. An online survey was conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 24 August to 8 September 2020. Of the 4160 respondents, 2002 eligible women were included in the data analysis. Their mean age was 36.3 (SD: 8.2). Most women (65.8%) were younger than 40 years old. Prevalence of any form of IPV was 11.7%. Being in the 30–39 and >50 years’ age groups (OR = 0.66, CI: 0.46–0.95; p = 0.026 and OR = 0.23, CI: 0.11–048; p < 0.001, respectively), living in urban setting (OR = 0.63, CI: 0.41–0.99; p = 0.047), and belonging to the middle socioeconomic class (OR = 0.48, CI: 0.29–0.79; p = 0.003) significantly decreased the odds for experiencing IPV. Lower socioeconomic status (OR = 1.84, CI: 1.04–3.24; p = 0.035) and being pregnant (OR = 1.63, CI: 1.16–2.29; p = 0.005) or uncertain of pregnancy status (OR = 2.01, CI: 1.17–3.44; p = 0.011) significantly increased the odds for reporting IPV. Additional qualitative research is needed to identify the underlying reasons and mechanisms of IPV in order to develop and implement prevention interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • John D. Ditekemena & Christophe Luhata & Hypolite M. Mavoko & Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo & Dalau M. Nkamba & Wim Van Damme & Shahul H. Ebrahim & Christiana Noestlinger & Robert Colebunders, 2021. "Intimate Partners Violence against Women during a COVID-19 Lockdown Period: Results of an Online Survey in 7 Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5108-:d:552709
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John D. Ditekemena & Hypolite M. Mavoko & Michael Obimpeh & Stijn Van Hees & Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo & Dalau M. Nkamba & Antoinette Tshefu & Wim Van Damme & Jean Jacques Muyembe & Robert Colebunders, 2021. "Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Results of Two Consecutive Online Surveys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Jewkes, Rachel & Abrahams, Naeema, 2002. "The epidemiology of rape and sexual coercion in South Africa: an overview," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 1231-1244, October.
    3. Jingjing Zeng & Meiquan Jiang & Meng Yuan, 2020. "Environmental Risk Perception, Risk Culture, and Pro-Environmental Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-18, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lili Li & Araz Taeihagh & Si Ying Tan, 2023. "A scoping review of the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on vulnerable population groups," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.

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