Page 59 - IJPS-10-1

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

exacerbated the reported prevalence of IPV. Nonetheless, periods received limited attention across contexts. The
the situations and relationships contributing to women’s neglect of these women during critical moments can be
vulnerability to IPV remained inadequately addressed. attributed to multiple factors. Some of these factors include
The included articles highlighted gaps in addressing these inherent limitations and inequities in existing structures,
issues, intensifying the vulnerability of women who were including policies that fall short of mitigating vulnerability
already at risk (Fawole et al., 2021; Magezi & Manzanga, in precarious spaces and complex emergencies. From all the
2020; Mbulayi et al., 2021; Parry & Gordon, 2021; Tochie articles included in this review, the measures implemented
et al., 2020). Moreover, these articles shed light on policy were not specifically targeted at addressing IPV, except
gaps and the fragility of social structures and support in cases where reporting is encouraged but prosecution
systems, hindering retribution and rehabilitation efforts becomes challenging.
for victims and perpetrators of IPV (Sediri et al., 2020; Response and support from non-state actors appeared
Tochie et al., 2020).
to be lacking in the literature included. This observation
The unpreparedness of existing systems to manage is particularly notable in the context of Zimbabwe, where
complex emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Magezi & Manzanga advocate for a more responsive
is evident in the pervasive sense of hopelessness approach to addressing IPV and its impact during the
accompanying it. The consequences of COVID-19 intersect COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring such efforts, especially
across various sectors, posing challenges for a meaningful considering that churches, prominent non-state actors,
and swift response within current frameworks. Parry & possess a grassroots presence and a broad membership
Gordon (2021) argued that addressing vulnerability to base that is vulnerable and in need of protection and
IPV among women requires improved living conditions, rehabilitation from IPV (Magezi & Manzanga, 2020).
enhanced economic opportunities, and access to essential This review has some limitations that merit consideration.
health-care services. This includes effective policing in The literature primarily focuses on explaining and assessing
vulnerable neighborhoods and enhanced responsiveness to the impact of COVID-19, the implemented measures, and
IPV complaints and cases. They express skepticism about their respective contexts. Some of the included articles utilized
the readiness and likelihood of resolving existing structural cross-sectional designs with data collected retrospectively
deficits and economic challenges in South Africa, which through social media, capturing the pre-COVID IPV
consequently heighten vulnerability for women and other
social categories. Understanding the concomitant impact experience. Depending on the timing of data collection,
this approach may have resulted in either an overreporting
of COVID-19 on IPV and the system’s response is crucial or underreporting of post-COVID-19 experiences. The
when addressing the issue.
review’s identification of decreased IPV in the early phase of
Factors contributing to relationship instability and the pandemic underscores the necessity for a more in-depth
underlying health conditions are sometimes beyond interrogation of the findings. It is important to note that
individual control and lifestyle choices. One of the included research design quality was not specifically addressed in this
articles demonstrated how women with previous mental review. In addition, there was a deliberate focus on restricting
health challenges had more negative experiences during the inclusion of articles to those written exclusively in English.
the lockdown than before. The evidence highlights a This criterion implies the inclusion of only articles and
significant gap in mental health promotion, as women with documents composed in the English language. Despite this
such conditions were inadequately considered, leading limitation, the thorough search conducted yielded a total of
to more complications being reported among women in 14 relevant articles and documents. The review also addressed
Tunisia (Sediri et al., 2020). It is important to note that certain ambiguities, including a discussion of the questions
women in these contexts face increased vulnerability to that guided this review.
IPV due to the structural dimensions of their contexts.
The response systems and measures outlined in 5. Conclusion
the included literature reflect a lack of responsiveness Before the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of IPV were
to contextual predisposing factors, necessary support prevalent, yet the preparations and preventive measures
contexts of occurrence, alternative support networks, and were insensitive to gender inequalities within intimate
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The identified relationships. Although there were reports of IPV, the
limitations and gaps in response measures, as described responses from both state and non-state actors were
in the articles, underscore a failure to adequately protect notably limited. The level of responsiveness exhibited by
the situations and experiences of the women most affected. these actors toward the gendered consequences of the
The vulnerability of women to IPV during the lockdown COVID-19 pandemic underscores the potential need for

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 53 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.367