Page 54 - IJPS-10-1

International Journal of
Population Studies IPV during COVID-19 in Africa

and websites using Boolean operators (refer to Appendix were adopted to make sense of the evidence, contexts, and
for the complete list of search terms). For each database interpretations related to reported cases of IPV. The coding
and website, search strings were modified and adapted to process was conducted collaboratively by the first four
ensure the retrieval of relevant published and unpublished authors across three levels: first, second, and third order.
studies in English from March 2020 to December 2021. The process provided an opportunity to refine the codes
The search results were filtered based on the geographical for a deeper sense of the extractions from the selected
region (sub-Saharan Africa). Detailed information about articles and reports. At the first level, the analysis sought to
the databases, institutional websites, and other sources understand the contexts of the occurrence of each reported
searched is presented in Appendix. IPV case and the basic narratives provided. In addition, this
level facilitated the identification of statistical information
2.2. Inclusion and exclusion criteria on the occurrence of IPV across the settings of interest. At
Studies reporting IPV cases in Africa were eligible for the second-order level, the focus shifted to the responses
inclusion in this review. In addition, studies addressing from both state and non-state actors, assessing whether
reactions, strategies, interventions, and policies related to emergency efforts or interventions were introduced as
IPV published between January 2020 and December 2021 a response to address inherent vulnerabilities during the
were considered. This review exclusively targeted studies COVID-19 pandemic. The third-level analysis delved
published in the English language. into the forms, processes, actors involved, and the quality
Reports, cases, experiences, stories, and studies discussing of response from these actors. Analysis at the fourth
IPV in locations outside Africa or presented in languages level involved the integration of identified issues into
other than English were not included in this review. themes and sub-themes, providing a more comprehensive
understanding of both the IPV cases and system response.
2.3. Participants
The target population for this review includes males, 3. Results
females, youths, young adults, older adults, adolescents or The 14 articles that met the inclusion criteria spanned
young people, as well as teens or teenagers involved in the regions across Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern
reports, cases, and studies regarding experiences of IPV. Africa. Among these, three articles originated from
Nigeria, two from South Africa, and two from Uganda. Of
2.4. Context these seven papers, three adopted qualitative approaches,
The emphasis of this review rests on the availability of two took the form of surveys with a focus on the influence
evidence or reports depicting cases, experiences, and stories of COVID-19 on mental health, and three were reviews
of IPV within African contexts. Our focus extends to system (Figure 1). The remaining articles included a review of the
responses, encompassing targeting measures, interventions, legal framework for the recognition, evidence gathering,
reactions, and efforts taken or under consideration by and prosecution of perpetrators in three African countries
government agencies and their representatives, high (Sudan, Malawi, and Kenya). Two additional articles
commissions, and other governmental agencies in Africa. adopted a comparative approach, focusing on the impact
For non-state actors, the focus extended to religious of the COVID-19 pandemic on evidence gathering,
bodies, community-based organizations, and other non- documentation, and challenges in evidence collection
governmental organizations. We assessed the responses for the protection of survivors of sexual and gender-
of both state and non-state actors in terms of the steps based violence (SGBV), with implications drawn from
taken to advocate for measures, initiatives, or interventions both the COVID-19 pandemic moments in France and
addressing IPV, with the aim of mitigating vulnerability. In Cameroon. Hailing from the northern part of Africa,
addition, we considered responses in the form of support one article emerged from Tunisia, presenting an online
provided to victims, aiming to reduce potential effects on survey on the effect of the COVID-19-related lockdown
their well-being and improve their resilience. Responses on mental health and GBV among Tunisian women. The
initiated to either punish or rehabilitate perpetrators were second article, originating from Morocco and framed as a
also considered at the systemic level. newspaper report, provides narratives depicting women’s
experiences of violence during the COVID-19 lockdown
2.5. Analytical framework for organizing the in Morocco. A common theme among these articles
extractions centers on the pre-existing vulnerability of women to IPV
The analysis of the extracts commenced with a detailed before the pandemic. The predominant skewness in social
examination of the research questions and the aim of the arrangements, favoring men in terms of opportunities and
review. Both inductive and deductive coding approaches privileges, was widely accepted as a potent explanation,

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 48 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.367