Page 57 - IJPS-10-1

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

on Cameroon by Tochie et al. (2020) also postulated the Drawing from the existing legal framework and
intersections between structures and networks of relations responses to the impact of COVID-19 on IPV in Kenya,
in predisposing women to gender violence, and with Malawi, and Sudan, Ahmed et al. (2021) described the
COVID-19, more cases were reported to have occurred. presence or absence of laws and protocols aimed at
Precarious relationships and pre-existing health addressing vulnerability to IPV in these three African
conditions further predisposed certain women to countries. The Kenyan constitution provides guidelines
experience IPV during the pandemic. Extracts from a and ensures the protection of citizens’ lives against IPV.
cross-sectional survey conducted among women with The Sexual Offences Act of 2006 safeguards everyone from
a history of mental illness in Tunisia revealed that more harm arising from sexual acts. Similarly, Malawi boasts
than half of these women reported experiencing more seven gender-related laws designed to eliminate GBV
abusive incidents during the COVID-19 lockdown within domestic relationships. Conversely, the situation in
compared to the period preceding it (Sediri et al., 2020). Sudan diverges significantly, as there are no laws against
In addition, these women endured heightened episodes of IPV within the country’s legal framework. This absence is
depression, anxiety, and challenges in social interaction, attributed to the prolonged years of violence and family
including sharing or presenting their experiences in social law, rendering it practically impossible to prosecute
media spaces. Importantly, the peculiarity of their health perpetrators of domestic violence.
status proved inconsequential in defining what qualifies In Malawi, Police Victim Support Units were established
as effective and socially inclusive care during complex in all districts to respond to and prevent all forms of GBV.
emergencies. However, survivors of IPV faced challenges in accessing
The extracts from the study by Mbulayi et al. (2021) on IPV prevention and response services due to the limited
the psychosocial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic capacity of relevant service providers, who shifted their
highlight a worsening mental health problems among focus to COVID-19. The police response to IPV cases was
the study participants. Those reporting such experiences hampered by a shortage of personal protective equipment
cited phobias, anxiety, unhappiness, and insomnia as (PPE), leading to concerns about COVID-19 infection.
prevalent symptoms attributable to the pandemic. The Travel restrictions, transportation costs, and the fear of
heightened concerns about contracting COVID-19 had COVID-19 infection further prevented some women from
a negative impact on their sense of safety, with increased accessing IPV prevention and response services. A sense
anxiety about potential mortality. In addition, some of the of modification from the pre-pandemic situation was
respondents manifested false symptoms of COVID-19. observed. In August 2020, the Kenyan police introduced
The psychosocial consequences of COVID-19 intensified PoliCare, a one-stop model police station where survivors
as many of the respondents abandoned their sources can access critical multisectoral services. However, these
of livelihood in compliance with the government- services are exclusively available to residents of Nairobi
recommended protocol for curbing the spread of COVID. City (Ahmed et al., 2021).
Notably, women were disproportionately affected, with Lobbying by civil society, driven by the surge in GBV
cases of domestic violence on the rise. cases, resulted in increased funding from foreign donors.
This funding is aimed at hiring counselors, promoting
3.7. Response systems and measures traceable to services provided by the GBV hotline, reinforcing referrals
the reported IPV during COVID-19 to survivors, and establishing toll-free hotlines, phone
This review indicates a propensity for approaching all calls, and virtual platforms for counseling services.
identified cases from a reactionary stance within the Unfortunately, these services were exclusive, catering
landscape of IPV cases in Africa. This pattern appears primarily to middle-class women. In recognition of this
consistent across the limited articles and documents limitation, certain organizations addressed the issue by
included in this review from the 10 African countries training and deploying community health volunteers
(Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan, to support women and girls within their communities,
South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe). The providing psychological first aid. Kenya, in particular,
expectation was for both state and non-state actors to exemplified how trained community health workers could
collaborate and engage in addressing the potential impact deliver IPV prevention and control services to survivors
or consequences of the pandemic. However, the system from marginalized groups lacking access to the internet or
also captures certain forms of tension and dissociation phone services during the period of COVID-19 infection
within the response system and the measures implemented control and prevention measures. It is noteworthy that
during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. the three countries had helplines designed to support IPV

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 51 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.367