An Evaluation of Domestic Violence against Jamaican Women during the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Authors

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Affia Palmer Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Racquel Swaby Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Dwayne Malcolm Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Vincent M.S. Peterkin Associate Vice President of Academic Administration and Interim Dean of the College of Humanities, Behavioural and Social Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Caroline McLean Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Monique White Scholarship and Student Aid, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

Abstract

Introduction: The first COVID-19 case in Jamaica was in March 2020; it has been an issue since then.

Objectives: This study (1) targets victims of domestic violence, (2) examines the factors that contribute to Jamaican women being victims of domestic violence, and (3) determines whether domestic violence against Jamaican women has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Researchers conducted a random sampling correlation research design to collect data from 513 Jamaican women 18 years and older across the island using a standardized survey created using Google Forms. The Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 25.0 with 95% confidence interval provided analysis of the collected data.

Findings: Of the sampled respondents (n=505), 32% indicated being victims of domestic violence, with 60% reported being physically abused, 8.9% reported sexual abuse, and 31.1% reported being emotionally abused. Of the total sampled respondents, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 49% of them frequently experienced domestic violence compared to 53.1% during COVID-19. The majority of women who reported having a personality disorder (63.6%) were domestically abused compared to other women. Furthermore, of the 513 Jamaican women surveyed, 46.9% were between ages 18-25 years, 46.9 % employed, 68.8% lived in rural communities, and 53.8% had a tertiary level education. In addition, most perpetrators of domestic violence were boyfriends (98%) compared to husbands (89.7%) followed by family members (79.3%).

Conclusion: Intimate partner violence has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic, which means the home has become a battleground for women. Such a stark reality indicates that this public health matter requires immediate attention to mitigate further increase amid ongoing “stay at home orders” and social isolation.

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Published

2021-07-30

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2021): Global Journal of Transformation in Law, Human Rights and Social Justice [ISSN: 2581-4001]

Section

Articles