Mobile Remote Monitoring of Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant Patients During the COVID-19 Shelter-In-Place Order: Quality Improvement Pilot Study

Abstract

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the leading causes of pregnancy-related death. Prenatal health care providers can offer critical screening and support to pregnant people who experience IPV. During the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, mobile apps may offer such people the opportunity to continue receiving screening and support services. Objective We aimed to examine cases of IPV that were reported on a prenatal care app before and during the implementation of COVID-19 shelter-in-place mandates. Methods The number of patients who underwent voluntary IPV screening and the incidence rate of IPV were determined by using a prenatal care app that was disseminated to patients from a single, large health care system. We compared the IPV screening frequencies and IPV incidence rates of patients who started using the app before the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order, to those of patients who started using the app during the shelter-in-place order. Results We found 552 patients who started using the app within 60 days prior to the enforcement of the shelter-in-place order, and 407 patients who used the app at the start of shelter-in-place enforcement until the order was lifted. The incidence rates of voluntary IPV screening for new app users during the two time periods were similar (before sheltering in place: 252/552, 46%; during sheltering in place: 163/407, 40%). The overall use of the IPV screening tool increased during the shelter-in-place order. A slight, nonsignificant increase in the incidence of physical, sexual, and psychological violence during the shelter-in-place order was found across all app users (P=.56). Notably, none of the patients who screened positively for IPV had mentions of IPV in their medical charts. Conclusions App-based screening for IPV is feasible during times when in-person access to health care providers is limited. Our results suggest that the incidence of IPV slightly increased during the shelter-in-place order. App-based screening may also address the needs of those who are unwilling or unable to share their IPV experiences with their health care provider.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Intimate Partner Violence against Women in the Czech Republic: Incidence and Associated Factors

“…Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every country in the world, and that each country has had a different approach to the situation, it is necessary to examine this phenomenon while considering the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in particular countries and restrictions put in place, and also national cultural specificities such as community attitudes to violence or functional networks of victim support services. Similarly to Krishnamurti et al [ 41 ], who also did not observe the expected increase in IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic in their study, it is important to note that the lack of evidence for the presence of IPV does not necessarily mean that it does not occur. Due to the sensitivity of this topic, it is necessary to be aware of the situation of victims, who often do not have a chance to participate in research at all, because their conduct may be controlled by the perpetrator.…”

Global changes in maternity care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…There has, for example, been an increase in intimate partner violence (IPV) during the pandemic, primarily directed against women [78À80]. Krishnamurthi et al report increased uptake during the pandemic period of an app developed to support IPV reporting [81] but clearly this pathway is only available to women with access to a smartphone. Several groups noted the danger of reducing access for low income or vulnerable women who might be less able to access high speed internet or video capable personal devices.…”

Violência contra a mulher por parceiro íntimo na pandemia de COVID-19: magnitude e fatores associados

“…Com relação a ocorrência de IPV durante a pandemia de COVID-19, observou-se que todos os estudos evidenciaram situações abusivas perpetradas pelo parceiro íntimo (Aolymat, 2021;Fawole et al, 2021;Gebrewahd et al, 2020;Gosangi et al, 2021;Haq, Raza & Mahmood, 2020;Krishnamurti et al, 2021;Mahmood et al, 2021;Naghizadeh, Mirghafourvand, Mohammadirad, 2021;Pattojoshi et al, 2021;Sabri et al, 2020). As taxas de IPV durante o período pandêmico variaram entre 18,1% na Índia (Pattojoshi et al, 2021) até 38,7% no Iraque (Mahmood et al, 2021).…”

“…Seis (60%) artigos revelaram que a pandemia proporcionou um aumento da frequência de IPV em mulheres que já eram vítimas desse tipo de violência antes do período pandêmico (Aolymat, 2021;Gosangi et al, 2021;Krishnamurti et al, 2021;Mahmood et al, 2020;Pattojoshi et al, 2021;Sabri et al, 2020). Um estudo realizado na Jordânia identificou que em uma amostra de 200 mulheres, 20,5% delas vivenciaram um aumento das práticas abusivas desde o início da pandemia (Aolymat, 2021).…”