Epidemiological Study of Violence against Children and Its Increase during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiological profiles of violence against children, victims, and their aggressors, and their correlations between socioeconomic and demographic factors analyzed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional, retrospective observational study based on a review of Individual Notification Forms from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, including child victims of violence, under 18 years, assisted by a pediatric emergency service in Brazil, from 2016–2020. Data were stratified, then statistical analysis was performed using the two-proportion equality test and the Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. A total of 609 notifications were analyzed and a prevalence of sexual violence (63.2%) was reported. The prevalent profile of victim was female (76.7%), aged between 2–9 years (38.1%) and 14–18 years (35.6%). The violence occurs in the victim’s home (58.9%). The prevalent profile of perpetrator was male (82.4%), young adolescent (59.2%), living as family (64%), mainly the parents (18.4%). No correlation was found between the classified socioeconomic and demographic variables and violence. There was an increase in notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same period in the previous year; self-harm was reported in 59.7% of physical violence in 2020. Prevalence of sexual violence was higher for females, aged between 2–9 and 14–18 years, victimized in their homes, by male offenders, living as family, mainly by their parents. No association was found between child violence and the socioeconomic and demographic.

Prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-harm hospitalizations in France: A nationwide retrospective observational study

“…Moreover, there were numerous temporary classroom closures, and closure of universities for several weeks during the 2020–2021 academic year. Finally, lockdown periods may have had negative impacts on the functioning of many families [ 20 ], including high rates of domestic violence toward juveniles [ 16 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Association between violence and mental distress, self-harm and suicidal ideation and attempts among young people in Malawi

“…While these data precede the current COVID-19 pandemic, they are still relevant. Currently, these are the only available country-level data for Malawi that explain characteristics of violence and related factors among children; the COVID-19 pandemic has increased exposures to adverse childhood experiences such as orphanhood or loss of caregivers,32 social instability33 and direct violence exposures34 all of which have direct mental health issues for children. Existing vulnerabilities among families can have a more significant negative correlation among children through greater exposures to adverse childhood experiences.…”

The mental health of children and young people living in big cities in a revolving postpandemic world

“…To begin with, multiple reports raised attention to a significant increase in domestic violence during stay-at-home measures [87,88], which was attributable to familial distress and longer exposure of victims to perpetrators [89]. For children, studies found mixed results that varied according to geographical location [90][91][92][93][94]. However, results reporting decreases on notification rates were considered with worry [95], as underreporting could be a consequence of lack of contact with schools or of interruption of notification services [93,96,97].…”