Challenges to the Provision of Services for Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Nationwide Web-Based Survey

Sonia Michaelsen; Sonia Parra Jordan; Christina Zarowsky; Alissa Koski

doi:10.1177/10778012241228286

Challenges to the Provision of Services for Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Nationwide Web-Based Survey

Violence Against Women. 2024 Jan 31:10778012241228286. doi: 10.1177/10778012241228286. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sonia Michaelsen^{1

2}, Sonia Parra Jordan², Christina Zarowsky^{1

2}, Alissa Koski^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
² Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
⁴ Department of Equity, Ethics, and Policy, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

PMID: 38295351
DOI: 10.1177/10778012241228286

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic increased women's vulnerability to intimate partner and sexual violence (IPV/SV), as well as challenging organizations' ability to respond. This research is based on a 2021 nationwide survey about the impacts of COVID-19 on IPV/SV services across Canada. Nationwide, organizations adopted several measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, including scaling back services, reducing or stopping their volunteers, and reducing the number of in-shelter clients. Organizations detailed several financial challenges including increased costs and cancelation of fundraising events. Organizations also reported many staffing challenges, from increased workloads to staff leaves of absence due to childcare responsibilities, mental health reasons, or contracting COVID-19. Policies ensuring adequate financial support to IPV/SV services in nonemergency times could help minimize disruption to service delivery during crisis situations.

Keywords: COVID-19; Canada; intimate partner violence; service provision; sexual violence; survey; women shelters.