Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the Arab Countries: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors

Mojahed, Amera; Alaidarous, Nada; Shabta, Hanade; Hegewald, Janice; Garthus-Niegel, Susan

doi:10.1177/1524838020953099

Cited by 29 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 101 publications

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“…Regional and societal factors may further impact victims' and perpetrators' access to help resources. For instance, in many settings around the world, patriarchal views of the family, social norms, or geographical distance from professional and private support resources may offer potential explanations for the increased risk of IPV ( 1 , 27 – 29 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Prevalence and Severity of Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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BackgroundTo contain the spread of COVID-19, governmental measures were implemented in many countries. Initial evidence suggests that women and men experience increased anger and aggression during COVID-19 lockdowns. Not surprisingly, media reports and initial empirical evidence highlight an increased risk for domestic violence (DV) during the pandemic. Nonetheless, a systematic review of studies utilizing participants' reports of potential changes in DV prevalence and severity during the pandemic as compared to pre-pandemic times is needed.ObjectiveTo examine empirical, peer-reviewed studies, pertaining to the potential change in prevalence and severity of different types of DV during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by study participants.Data SourcesElectronic EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL searches were conducted for the period between 2020 and January 5, 2022. References of eligible studies were integrated by using a snowballing technique.Study SelectionA total of 22 primary, empirical, peer-reviewed studies published in English or German were included.ResultsOf the 22 studies, 19 were cross-sectional whereas 3 included both pre-pandemic and during pandemic assessments. Data synthesis indicates that severity of all types of DV as well as the prevalence of psychological/emotional and sexual DV increased for a significant number of victims in the general population during the pandemic. Evidence for changes in prevalence regarding economic/financial, physical, and overall DV remains inconclusive. There was considerable between-study variation in reported prevalence depending on region, sample size, assessment time, and measure.ConclusionsData synthesis partly supports the previously documented increase in DV. Governmental measures should consider the availability of easily accessible, anonymous resources. Awareness and knowledge regarding DV need to be distributed to improve resources and clinical interventions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Prevalence and Severity of Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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“…In Arabic speaking countries, too, women are expected to be demure and obedient to their husbands, who use violence against wives and women who do not adhere to the norm [ 109 ]. In Latin America and the Caribbean, people in rural areas and in disadvantaged groups tend to have favorable attitudes toward the use of IPVAW by a male in response to infidelity by his partner [ 110 ].…”

Section: The Psychosocial Impact Of Ipvaw In Social Ecological Perspe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Psychosocial Impacts of Intimate Partner Violence against Women in LMIC Contexts: Toward a Holistic Approach

Wessells

Kostelny²

2022

IJERPH

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Work on the mental health impacts of intimate partner violence in low-and middle-income countries has focused primarily on clinical disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse. This paper analyzes how non-clinical, psychosocial impacts from everyday stressors, particularly economic hardships and concern over one’s children, cause extensive suffering and damage women survivors’ well-being, influencing the development and expression of clinical disorders. Using a social ecological framework, the paper analyzes how psychosocial impacts arise at multiple levels, including societal levels where social norms often devalue women and privilege men, and how the stressor accumulation increases the harm caused by intimate partner violence (IPV) against women (IPVAW). Drawing on survivors’ narratives and studies from diverse low and middle income country (LMIC) settings, including armed conflict and natural disaster settings, the paper underscores the importance of understanding both clinical impacts and the non-clinical, psychosocial impacts, which interact with and complement one another. Recognizing the interplay also between IPVAW and other forms of violence against girls and women, the paper calls for a more comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing the impacts of IPVAW. Recognizing the enormous variety within and across countries that are considered to be LMIC settings, the paper cautions against universalized approaches to understanding the effects of IPVAW and helping to support survivors.

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“…In fact, it was suggested that the likelihood of violence against women decreases as the amount of social support available to them increases (20) and vice versa (21). Women who have friends or family members available for support seem therefore less socially isolated and thus in turn better protected from victimization at the hands of their partner than women without such support systems (22,23). In addition, social isolation plays a major role in creating the structural dislocation of minorities and marginalized populations and the differential distribution of resources (i.e., social capital), which in turn could directly increase the risk for IPV victimization for individuals who face overlapping social discriminations due to their race, gender, class, etc.…”

Section: Social and Geographical Isolation And Ipvmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Review on the Associations of Social and Geographical Isolation and Intimate Partner Violence: Implications for the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2021

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While the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of people to stay home and minimize their social contacts, newspaper reports worldwide raised concerns as they reported an increasing rate of intimate partner violence (IPV). One link of the measures enforced to control the pandemic to IPV might be a possible side effect of those measures, namely social and geographical isolation. As there was no scientific data investigating the association of IPV and social and geographical isolation in the context of epidemics or pandemics at the time of conducting this rapid review, we aimed at investigating a broader range of contexts of social as well as geographical isolation and its association with IPV to draw conclusions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. We searched Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (core collection). A research strategy was developed and observational studies were included if they considered men and/or women, estimates of social and geographical isolation, and IPV as a primary outcome. Of the 526 identified studies, 11 were included in this review. The included studies involved 15,695 women and were conducted in the USA, Sweden, Ethiopia, Egypt, Spain, and Turkey. Indicators of social isolation such as lack of social, emotional, or informational support or the frequency and quality of social contacts were narratively assessed. Geographical isolation was primarily assessed by physical distance to the next town or support service. Both social and geographic isolation were found to be associated with an increased risk of IPV. Recommendations made by the individual studies include the following: (a) improving access to social networks outside the victims' own group, (b) improving their economic circumstances, (c) asserting the responsibility for those in contact with the victims, and (d) increasing the focus on access to preventive services and programs need to be taken into account. Therefore, considering the particular infrastructure and legislation of the countries affected by the pandemic, policies need to ensure constant access to shelters and other help services and increase awareness for IPV in the society. In addition, future studies are warranted to assess prevalence rates and risk factors of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the Arab Countries: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors

Cited by 29 publications

References 101 publications

Changes in Prevalence and Severity of Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Changes in Prevalence and Severity of Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

The Psychosocial Impacts of Intimate Partner Violence against Women in LMIC Contexts: Toward a Holistic Approach

Rapid Review on the Associations of Social and Geographical Isolation and Intimate Partner Violence: Implications for the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

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