Epidemiology of sexual violence against adults and children before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Overall, there was a high rate of sexual violence, with trends correlating with the extent of COVID-19 restrictions; the highest rates were reported pre-pandemic and during alert level 1. These findings highlight the importance of prioritising the safety of women and children and informing protective strategies in both rural and urban areas during future emergency responses.