In mid-March we saw states, including Wisconsin, implementing Safer At Home orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With hopes to not over-burden the state’s health care system, Wisconsin’s order prohibited nonessential travel and limited gatherings (Wisconsin DHS, 2020). As we have struggled to survive this current pandemic, others are trying to survive another pandemic: intimate partner violence. In mid-March we saw states, including Wisconsin, implementing Safer At Home orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With hopes to not over-burden the state’s health care system, Wisconsin’s order prohibited nonessential travel and limited gatherings (Wisconsin DHS, 2020). As we have struggled to survive this current pandemic, others are trying to survive another pandemic: intimate partner violence. Defined as “physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological harm by a current of former partner or spouse” by the CDC, intimate partner violence (IPV) affects millions of Americans (Intimate Partner Violence, 2020). One in five women and one in seven men have experienced physical violence by a partner within their lifetime, and one in five women and one in twelve men experienced sexual violence by a partner (Preventing Intimate Partner Violence, 2020). IPV can lead in physical injury and even death. Experiencing IPV can lead to an array of health problems, including chronic pain and gastrointestinal problems (Benavides et al, n.a.). Survivors of IPV may also experience generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression (Benavides et al, n.a.). Other health problems linked to IPV include eating and sleeping disorders, poor self-esteem, and alcohol and drug abuse (WHO, 2012). During this current pandemic and the concurrent restrictions placed by governments, reports have noted that calls to IPV hotlines have increased (Valera, 2020). This spike in violence-related calls is not isolated to the United States, as Spain, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom also reported an increase in calls related to domestic violence (UN Women, n.a.). Since the start of their lockdown on March 17th, France has reported a 30% increase in domestic violence reports, and Argentina has experienced a 20% increase in domestic violence calls since the start of their lockdown on March 20th (UN Women, n.a.). In contrast, some communities have experienced a drop in calls – however, they fear that this is not due to less IPV occurring, but due to the fact that individuals are more unable to reach out for help (Fielding, 2020). Working from home and limited in-person gatherings limits a victim of IPV from their support circles and isolates them with their abuser; furthermore, isolation with their abuser may make it challenging for victims to have the privacy necessary to reach out to help lines and support services (Noguchi, 2020). Economic instability can also present challenges to leaving an abuser. COVID-19 has led to massive job loss, and without a source of income, victims of IPV may not have the economic resources and independence to flee their abuser (Stanley, 2020). Travel restrictions in place due to the pandemic may keep victims from being able to access safe havens (Evans et al., 2020). Victims have also expressed concern about contracting COVID-19 at shelters, thereby potentially keeping them from seeking support from shelters (Stanley 2020). Shelters are also facing hardships due to COVID-19. In order to comply with public health policies, shelters have had to limit the number of residents they can serve and the number of staff working at a time (Kaplan & Wong, 2020). However, social distancing within shelters can be challenging for those designed like dormitories, where residents may be sharing bathrooms and kitchens (Kaplan & Wong). In the mean time, shelters have utilized hotels to temporarily house victims and their families, but that comes with its own problems. Hotels may not have kitchenettes, which can make it challenging for families to prepare meals (Kaplan & Wong, 2020). As hotspots across Wisconsin and the country surge, one can wonder if Safer At Home orders may potentially be revisited. While public health orders are understandably made to insure the healthcare system is not overburdened by an increase in cases of this pandemic, it is important to keep in mind the vulnerable groups who are impacted by other pandemics, such as IPV. Government officials should work together with community members to insure that resources remain accessible and available to those in need. One recommendation in to insure equal access to broadband internet services, so that individuals are able to look up resources and stay in contact with their support networks (Evans et al, 2020). Health providers should also continue to screen for IPV through Telemedicine appointments (Evans et al, 2020), and when creating policies, governing bodies must keep in mind the barriers that impact an individual’s ability to utilize services and receive care. Sources:
AuthorThis article was written by Madie Kurth. Comments are closed.
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aboutThis blog is composed by students who attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Beyond Symptoms Organization. This blog serves to educate the public on disparities in healthcare. Categories |