Gender-Based Violence Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: A Neglected Consequence of the West African Ebola Outbreak

Sociocultural, behavioural and political factors shaping the COVID-19 pandemic: the need for a biocultural approach to understanding pandemics and (re)emerging pathogens

“…Even given this, however, it has still been suggested in the literature that women are at higher differential risk of adverse effects. This may be due not only to their socioculturally more vulnerable positions, again largely as caregivers (Wenham et al, 2020), but also given the potential for gender violence and abuse during epidemics and their aftermath, as seen during the co-epidemic of sexual and gender violence during the 2013-2015 Ebola outbreak (Menéndez et al, 2015;Minor, 2017;Onyango et al, 2019).…”

“…In the context of more extreme measures such as quarantine, ensuring that most vulnerable groups such as women and girls in the poorest communities receive adequate support will be important. This will help avoid a repeat of abuses that occurred during Ebola quarantine measures, such as sexual violence, inability to access basic maternity care and reports of women trading sex for basic necessities during quarantine (Davies & Bennett, 2016;Eba, 2014;Korkoyah & Wreh, 2015;Minor, 2017;Onyango et al, 2019).…”

Young people, inequality and violence during the COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda

“…This mainly stems from the fact that collecting data during crises is immensely challenging, with face to face interviewing often prohibited or too dangerous. Violence reporting through official channels sometimes drops, reflecting reduced access to services and ineffective reporting systems, making it difficult to get a clear picture of what is actually happening (UNDP Sierra Leone and Irish Aid, 2015; Onyango et al, 2019). Use of phones or computers for data collection excludes those without access to technology, and poses ethical risks as we discuss further (see section 3).…”

“…Much of our current knowledge comes from work conducted in West Africa in the context of the Ebola crisis (2014-2016), which has drawn attention to the gendered effects on women and girls. O'Brien and Tolosa (2016) argue that patriarchal gender regimes in place, which reinforced inequality and discrimination against women, led to women being disproportionately affected during the epidemic by multi-level violence, resulting in physical, psychological, sexual and economic harm (see also Onyango et al, 2019). In Sierra Leone, a study combining desk review, stakeholder interviews and focus groups with young women and men, reported both increases in domestic violence, and reduced service provision for survivors (UNDP Sierra Leone and Irish Aid, 2015).…”

Transactional sex in the wake of COVID-19: sexual and reproductive health and rights of the forcibly displaced

“…6 Studies from previous large-scale disease outbreaks such COMMENTARY 1 as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa have reported an increase of transactional sex. 7 While a problematic term, "survival sex" is sometimes used to refer to transactional sex that occurs in the context of extreme hardship. 6 Food insecurity, in particular, has been found to be a common reason to engage in transactional sex.…”