Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

German Goazalez

Abstract

AbstractThe domestic violence (DV) dilemma spans millennia and has devastated individuals, families, and societies. DV prevalence rose between 20% and 50% worldwide and over 5% among Virginians since early 2020 during COVID-19. Abuse victims’ vulnerability increased during the lockdown periods due to the extended time spent with perpetrators. DV victims visited emergency departments for their nonfatal physical injuries. The purpose of the study was to examine COVID-19-related lockdown effects on DV prevalence, perpetrator characteristics, and hospitalizations among Virginians. Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological model served as the theoretical foundation. Descriptive analyses showed that DV prevalence among Virginians rose from 37.5% in 2019 to 45.5% in 2020. The majority of DV perpetrators shifted from male partner (24.6% in 2019 and 13.2%, 2020) to other perpetrators, 25.8% during the 2020 lockdown period from 16.4% in 2019. DV-related emergency department visits rose from 46% in 2019 to 49.8% in 2020, and those requiring specialized hospital care jumped from 0.4% in 2019 to 3.1% in 2020. Pearson’s chi-square test showed significant relationships between DV prevalence, perpetrator characteristics, and hospitalization to during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Implications for positive social change include providing evidence to policymakers that can help secure more proactive and targeted approaches to protect vulnerable populations including women, girls, people of color, those on Medicaid, and younger age groups from DV during public emergencies like pandemics.

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