Page 58 - IJPS-10-1

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

survivors. However, these services were only accessible to relationships, socioeconomic pressures, and patriarchal
a marginal section of the population. skewness surrounding resource access and sharing render
Ahmed et al. (2021) argued that Sudan and Kenya lack women in many African communities vulnerable. The
adequate guidelines for prevention and response services. COVID-19 outbreak in Africa prompted governments
In Kenya, the inclusion of GBV in the COVID-19 response and key decision-makers to implement measures aimed
plans only occurred following pressure from civil society, at curbing the spread of the virus and mitigating its
underscoring the influential role of civil society in IPV consequences for those already affected and the general
prevention. Conversely, Sudan lacks both a prevention and population. Unfortunately, the widespread adoption of
response plan, attributed to a deficiency in political will lockdown measures, without due consideration for gender
and a legal framework supporting the establishment of differences and structural deficiencies, has exacerbated
services, despite a notable increase in cases of marital rape various forms of IPV within different contexts and
relationships. The anticipation of a surge in IPV stems from
during lockdown. Gender inequalities prevalent in these prevailing structural challenges and a policy environment
countries contribute to the weak enforcement of GBV laws,
with the absence of a well-resourced functional system that has demonstrated insensitivity to gender inequity
to address the needs and concerns of IPV survivors and (Amzat et al., 2020). During the pandemic, the prevalence
prevent IPV across all three countries (Ahmed et al., 2021). rate of IPV was notably high, with variations across
different contexts. The implementation of COVID-19
Non-state actors appeared handicapped in addressing outbreak and lockdown measures has exacerbated the
the challenges posed by the pandemic; the need for more situation across all contexts considered in this review
concrete and focused efforts from churches, which are (Ahmed et al., 2021; Amzat et al., 2020; Fawole et al., 2021;
critical actors, was absent in the Magezi & Manzanga Magezi & Manzanga, 2020; Mbulayi et al., 2021; Sediri
(2020) accounts. The extracts from the study called for et al., 2020; Tochie et al., 2020). To comprehensively assess
public pastoral care roles as more members suffered one the prevailing response system to IPV in the settings from
form of loss or another during the lockdown periods. More which the articles and reports originated, it is crucial to
transformative interventions and measures were proposed initially determine whether there was a concrete systemic
and predicted to have more meaningful impacts on intention to modify or design an emergency response
members, particularly in upholding the dignity of women framework that could be deployed and accessed by those
when integrated within measures from other sectors. in need.
Despite these assertions and the potential effectiveness of Despite variations in prevalence across contexts, this
adopting multisectoral strategies and measures, none of review revealed heightened occurrences of emotional abuse,
the responses reflected an understanding of the situation. economic abuse, and increased minor IPV. The effects of
Affirming this neglect, Parry & Gordon (2021) argued that IPV on women in Tunisia, Morocco, Zimbabwe, and South
even among black women in the Western Cape, South Africa exhibited variability. The review underscores how
Africa, the one-size-fits-all strategy adopted was oblivious societal structures contribute to women’s vulnerability to
to the precarious spaces promoting vulnerability to IPV IPV, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates this issue.
among women. Similar situations were portrayed in the The psychosocial consequences of contracting COVID-19,
policy review in Cameroon, where the implementation coupled with limited protective measures against its spread,
of COVID-19 confinement laws proved insufficient to further affected the emotional and psychological stability of
curb cases of sexual and GBV (Tochie et al., 2020). The some women. These findings from the review highlight the
responses and measures introduced exhibited blindness limited available and utilized options during the early stages
and gender insensitivity in curbing the further spread of of the COVID-19 outbreak in Africa.
COVID-19 in South Africa and other settings in Africa,
necessitating a reconsideration. The article by Fawole et al. (2021) further revealed that
women who experienced emotional and physical violence,
4. Discussion along with their children, faced threats of homelessness
IPV is a psychosocial phenomenon that occurs within from their partners or spouses. The responses from both
contexts and relationships marked by low tolerance and state and non-state actors to reported cases of IPV failed
inherent oppression. This review systematically maps the to capture the peculiarities of each situation and the
literature concerning the exacerbation and contexts of introduced measures.
IPV during the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent This review affirms concerns raised by various
implementation of lockdown measures across various stakeholders regarding the gender insensitivity of
social settings in Africa. Challenges within intimate lockdown measures and how this approach could have

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 52 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.367