New Frontiers Research Project - COVID and IPV

Background: Globally one in three, or over 700 million, women experience violence perpetrated by an intimate partner. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a higher incidence and severity of IPV has been reported. Government-directed restrictions including stay-at home orders, physical distancing, and other pandemic-related measures forced many IPV organizations to roll back, adapt, or discontinue programs. While some community organizations developed new remote-service programs, others adapted existing models, and IPV organizations continue to provide virtual interventions to IPV survivors post-lockdown. Objectives: The overall objective of this study is to examine the innovative practices employed by community-based organizations that responded to intimate partner violence (IPV) and to assess the effectiveness of these services during the pandemic and pandemic recovery. Methods: Our study employs a mixed-method research design. The first and current phase involves in-depth interviews with frontline service providers and administrators of IPV service organizations across three countries (Canada, India, and South Africa). Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis will be utilized. The second phase of this project includes a survey of service-engaged and non-service-engaged survivors in each country. Future Applications/Directions or for a completed study, Results/ Implications: As our study is in progress, suggested future directions include: 1) gathering insight that will inform future contingency plans for IPV service organizations during community-level disasters, such as COVID-19, 2) assessing the effectiveness of IPV existing and adapted interventions during the pandemic, and 3) to understand the resiliencies exhibited by IPV survivors with help-seeking during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.