Lockdown-induced Shadow Pandemic: A Phenomenological Interpretation of Domestic Violence in Kerala

Lockdown-induced Shadow Pandemic: A Phenomenological Interpretation of Domestic Violence in Kerala | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Lockdown-induced Shadow Pandemic: A Phenomenological Interpretation of Domestic Violence in Kerala ATHIRA KRISHNAN KT, Dr. ATIQ AHMED This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972617/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose: Existing literature suggests that the COVID-19 restrictions led to a shadow pandemic wherein women’s lives were disproportionately affected. This study sheds light on the mechanisms through which COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have furthered violence against women, uncovering a distressing interplay of factors that exacerbate this "Shadow Pandemic. The goal is to provide insights for shaping effective intervention and support strategies, especially in the context of public health crises. Methods: The research focused on exploring the phenomenological interpretive experiences of domestic violence among married women in Kerala during the COVID-19 lockdown. Narratives of thirty-five women victims of domestic violence were analysed and subjected to thematic analysis, yielding diverse emergent themes discussed under distinct headings. Results: The findings revealed a spectrum of abuse including physical violence, psychological trauma, economic exploitation, and intimate partner violence. The study outlines key themes that have emerged. Marital Disharmony, Pseudo-Long Distance Relationships, Marital Rape, Domestic Labor, Compelled Coexistence, Vulnerability Exacerbation, Socio-Economic Disparities, Pandemic-Induced Isolation, Economic Fallout, Physical Abuse, and Joblessness are the major themes examined. Conclusions: The lockdown-induced shadow pandemic has cast a distressing influence on women's lives. The intersection of a global health crisis and a surge in gender-based violence underscores the urgent need for comprehensive societal responses. As we navigate the aftermath of lockdowns, this study calls for the prioritisation of the well-being and empowerment of women, ensuring that they are not left behind in the recovery process. Domestic violence women victims shadow pandemic COVID- Lockdown Introduction Violence against women is recognized internationally as an act of human rights violation and is a significant problem faced by women. Estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (30%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime [1] Domestic violence is deeply entrenched and widely prevalent in India. The number of reported complaints of domestic violence received by the National Commission for Women rose sharply from 2,960 in 2019 to 5,297 in 2020, the year of the lockdown when most people were confined to their homes due to COVID-19. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2019 reports that a majority (30.9%) of all the 4.05 lakh cases of crimes against women are registered under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)[ 2 ]; according to Crime data, Kerala reported 56 dowry deaths from 2016 to 2020, and 1080 cases have been registered till April in connection with harassment of women by husbands or relatives[ 3 ]. The different types of domestic violence include physical abuse, sexual abuse, Verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse. Some of the leading factors of Domestic violence are aggressive attitude, depression, stress, economic hardship, controlling nature, drug addiction, extramarital affairs, lack of trust, patriarchy and superiority complex, Dowry system etc. 1.1. COVID-19 and the Shadow Pandemic To prevent the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) many measures were imposed by the Govt. of India, such as social distancing, avoiding public gatherings, limiting the number of home visitors, staying at home more often, keeping a safe distance from others, and meeting online rather than in person with friends and family). On 24th March 2020, the government of India declared a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, which was extended for almost four months. Lockdown means staying home only to buy essentials, reducing the number of outings, and ideally allowing only one of her healthy family members to travel when necessary. The COVID-19 restrictions led to a shadow of the pandemic. During the lockdown, the public was forced to stay back in the confines of their homes. This led to only the functioning of essential services and the restriction of people from moving out of their houses. The situation led to women being forced to stay with families. One in three women worldwide had experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly from an intimate partner. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown resulted in drastic crises for the lives and lives of the world's entire population [ 4 ]. The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global healthcare problem. Beyond public health, it affects the daily lives of billions of people, leaving them isolated or separated from their families for longer than ever before[ 5 ][ 6 ]. Household stress can increase an intimate partner's likelihood of violence. When people are at home, families spend more time in close contact, even in cramped conditions [ 7 ]. Newspapers reporting on domestic violence cases over the past 5 years were analysed to understand the issues related to the spike in domestic violence cases during the COVID-19 lockdown period. There has been a significant increase in domestic violence cases during the COVID-19 period compared with previous years. In addition, cases were higher in the early stages of the pandemic but decreased over time. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women is unprecedented and worse than before. Home confinement as a measure to protect the health and well-being of the public has increased women's suffering from both misery and domestic violence [ 4 ] [ 8 ] 1.2. Statistics of domestic violence during COVID 19 The National Commission for Women reported the highest number of complaints filed 68 days after the lockdown ended than in the period over 10 years. The Commission received 23,722 complaints in 2020. The breakup of complaints reported showed that 45% of women said they or a woman they know has experienced violence against women since COVID-19. One in every four women reported that conflict in families has become more frequent and feel more unsafe in their homes. 48% of women aged between 18 to 49 have experienced the highest violence during COVID-19. Another 33% of unemployed women and 26% of employed women feel less safe at home during COVID-19. 7 in 10 women said they thought abuse, verbal or physical, from a sexual partner has become more common. 3 in 10 women whose condition has worsened believe that violence in their community is greater than before [ 8 ] The researchers also predict that up to 44 million women in 114 low-and middle-income countries will not be able to access contraception if Covid-19 embargoes and restrictions continue in three months and cause major service disruptions. This will lead to about 1 million unwanted pregnancies.[ 9 ]. There is currently no equivalent method on the helpline, which makes it difficult for them, thus increasing the rates of unprotected sex, forced sex, pregnancy and rape in women [ 10 ]. Most women stay away or avoid reporting to the police because of fear, resistance, or fear of being taken advantage of by the police. They tend not to go ahead and come for help, which increases the difficulty. It cannot be generalised because the exact number is eager to help. Some terrible encounters, as a rule, pollute the whole picture. Social stigma and self-stigmatization associated with disclosure and family normalisation continue to lead to underreporting [ 6 ]. The recent merging data highlight that since the COVID-19 outbreak, violence against women and girls, including domestic violence and interpersonal sexual abuse, has increased in one number of countries. It is intuitively certain that in these times of stress, being confined to the home without access to support systems, the increased risk is a cause for concern and appropriate resolution [ 11 ]. Women's security is the gateway to basic health, living standards, empowerment, and a necessary condition for achieving gender equality. Stay-at-home orders to limit the spread of COVID-19 had the potential to trap the women with their abusers, creating dangerous conditions of violence against women, often with tragic consequences. The study by UN Women has found that violence against women and girls has increased since the COVID-19 outbreak. This has coincided in many countries with reductions in victim support services, partly due to operational difficulties and reduced funding for law enforcement agencies and grassroots women's organisations. Service delivery Social isolation is considered one of the major risk factors leading to episodes of intimate partner violence; this evidence also appears in the implementation of containment policies to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic [ 12 ]. Violence against women is a violation of human rights, often with serious immediate and long-term consequences. Women around the world experience it in various forms, settings, frequency and severity levels at the hands of close partners, family members or others. Furthermore, women's feelings of insecurity limit their lives in many ways, hindering their health as well as their civil, political, economic and social rights. Methods 2.1 Research design The present research focuses on exploring the phenomenological interpretive experiences of domestic violence among married women in the Malabar region of Kerala during the COVID-19 lockdown. The research sought to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the COVID pandemic on vulnerable populations during lockdown. The lockdown as a phenomenon and the experiences of domestic violence of the women under the shadow of pandemic lockdown was explored. When the state and central government bodies enforced complete lockdown, the women were forced to stay back with their families. The resources available in the home were shared by all residents. Many women lived with 24 hours of the existence of other family members, which became a constant source of stress. Furthermore, the spouses who were working abroad and living out of station returned back to home. This complicated the situation. During this duration the women faced different types of domestic violence and mechanism to redress was not easily accessible. After the lockdown normalized the women who had faced violence started to report and seek support from secondary and tertiary support sources. 2.2 Participants The women who had registered in women's helpline centers to seek redressal for violence faced during the COVID lockdown were contacted. Those women willing to narrate their experiences were included as participants in this research. Thirty five women were willing to participate and share their experiences. The age group of women participants was between 24 to 42 years. The participants had primary to collegiate levels of education and hailed from poor to middle socio-economic conditions. All the women were married and living with their spouses or in their in-laws home. 2.3 Procedure The participants were interviewed in a face-to-face interaction. A guide to interview was developed which assisted the researcher to acquire comprehensive insights into the nature and types of violence experienced, any prior history of abuse, and interventions undertaken by engaging with counsellors and case records. Handwritten notes and voice recordings were used as methods after availing informed consent from the participants. Narratives of Thirty-Five women who were victims of domestic violence were analyzed. The interviews were transcribed and the narrative records were subjected to thematic analysis, yielding diverse emergent themes discussed under distinct headings. 2.4 Ethical Guidelines Followed The present research is part of the ongoing doctoral research program and has been granted ethical clearance and a certificate of Ethical acceptability of research involving humans by the ‘Board of Studies in Social Work, Central University of Rajasthan’ number BOS.F02/2024.1 to be in compliance with the ethical guidelines laid by the Institution/University Grants Commission of India. The researcher had taken care to keep the personal information and identity of the women confidential. The researcher also provided psychosocial support for the victims in distress. Follow-up telephonic calls were also made to ensure the well-being of the participants. Those women in high distress were provided with further psychosocial support. The study ensured strict anonymity and confidentiality of the participants and the narration of intimate violence experiences. The research data does not involve any experimentation with behavior modification or collection of human tissue etc. 2.5 Informed Consent Prior to participation in this study, all participants were provided with a detailed explanation of the research objectives, written informed consent was obtained from each participant as per the ethical guidelines. Results Since the COVID-19 outbreak, new data and reports from frontline workers show that all types of violence against women and girls, especially domestic violence, are on the rise. As COVID-19 cases increased, violence shelters and helplines had reached operational capacity. The women had to stay put in their homes where they were residing. In the present study, the narratives of women show that several of the factors and situations contributed to the domestic violence which emerged out. The findings are reported with relevant narratives under different themes. 3.1. Marital Disharmony Marital disharmony is when married couples have disagreements and unpleasant feelings. Married couples were stuck in their home under the same roof during the lockdown. They were forced to interact and engage with each other in many different ways. They had to deal with interpersonal problems that could have been avoided by engaging in regular routines, work, and social interactions. One of the victims narrated, “Lockdown worsens all things. I am realizing that we had a toxic relationship. I do not want to stay in this relationship anymore. I need separation from my husband.” Lower socialisation with family and friends, compatibility issues with in-laws, personal factors such as depression, anxiety, increased stress, anger and less satisfaction in marriage life, rejection of women's traditional "housewife" roles, unrealistic expectations from the partner, increased family responsibilities during COVID pandemic induced marital disharmony between married couples and negatively affected marital life. Marital disharmony leads to conflict between couples. It is evident from one of the victims who related, “ Husband and I stayed separately due to lockdown announcement and the communication gap created detachment among us. We fight for little things, and that creates stress for me.” The pandemic's overall financial, emotional and physical stress has forced some people to scrutinize their partners. Tensions are high, and there is nowhere to go in that situation. One of the wives reported “My husband and I are having a lot of adjustment issues these days. We are arguing for silly things, and I feel trapped in this house.” It has already been proven that spending more time together in close proximity increases the possibility of divorce. One of the victims reported , “We are not enjoying life now; lockdown stuck us in this home.” An abrupt announcement of a nationwide lockdown led to a situation where physical and emotional separation resulted in what can be described as a 'pseudo-long distance relationship,' particularly affecting couples geographically apart. Conversely, some couples deliberately used this physical distancing following an argument to resolve their conflicts. However, the lockdown prevented them from employing their usual strategy of taking a break from each other, potentially exacerbating their disagreements. Even couples living together faced heightened anxiety about transmitting the illness to each other, accompanied by feelings of guilt. Furthermore, a stigma was attached, particularly targeting healthcare workers and other vulnerable individuals [13]. Most of the contributing factors to marital disharmony are people who are stressed and anxious because they are afraid of catching the coronavirus and are apprehensive about the future. This anxiety is sometimes transferred and directed at the spouse, causing the marital relationship to worsen. Faulty communication patterns such as communication with lack of respect, adequate use of words, appropriate tone, and body language may hamper marital harmony, Unrealistic expectations from a spouse, Job loss/salary cut, Couples who stay separately due to work requirements might end up having frequent conflicts concerning each other’s living styles[13]. 3.2. Marital Rape One of the manifestations of this domestic violence is marital rape, the practice of forcing one’s partner to have sex without proper consent, is an unjust but uncommon way to degrade and displace women's power. According to the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21), “among married women aged 18-49 who have experienced sexual violence, 83% said their current husband and 13% said her ex-husband as the perpetrator. It is not fair that the women undergo forceful penetration, and the men enjoy that situation. One woman narrated, “My husband forcing me to have intercourse several times a day.” Physical and psychological incompatibility over addiction to pornography leads to unrealistic expectations and a dissatisfied sexual life. This became evident with narratives of women, wherein one victim said, “My husband started watching porn videos and forcing me to do accordingly, which is not comfortable for me.” Another woman narrated that “h e got drunk every night and always forced me to do unwanted penetration. I am going through unpleasant sexual experiences.” One another victim reported, “My husband became addicted to porn videos and forced me to watch those videos, and he is dissatisfied with the sexual relationship and then scolded for that.” UN Women has referred to the rise in Violence against Women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and accompanying lockdowns as the ‘Shadow Pandemic’ (UN Women, 2020). The term marital rape (also referred to as spousal rape) refers to unwanted intercourse by a man on his wife obtained by force, threat of force or physical violence or when she is unable to give consent. The word unwanted intercourse refers to all sorts of penetration (anal, vaginal or oral) perpetrated against her will or without her consent [14]. Women are not sexual objects; they are human beings with the same rights as men to defend their bodies from all sorts of violence as a manifestation of their self-worth. In practice, however, men frequently exploit women as sexual objects. Rape affects not just unmarried women but also married women. [15] A 34-year-old lady whose spouse had left her for another woman after abandoning her for eight years unexpectedly came back during the COVID lockdown. Now, he is regularly abusing her sexually [16] The absence of thought on healthy sexuality and intimacy practices is prevalent during this pandemic, which often leads to sexual frustration and coercive and risky sexual interactions. Banerjee and Rao, in their detailed review on sexual well-being and intimacy during pandemics, highlight the possible rise of coercive and non-consensual sexual practices, sexual deviations, and increased marital disharmony during the ongoing crisis, all of which can contribute to gender-based stress and violence [10]. 3.3 Domestic Labor One of the important reasons for domestic violence is domestic labour; the burden of household chores falls under women’s shoulders, and it is not divided between family members, which creates pressure on women [17]. With many people living under the same roof, women generally take on household chores as well as childcare since the conventional structure, role stress and role allocation can go unmanaged and satisfactory, leading to difficulties in the form of hostility and anxiety [6]. According to Statista April 2020, 59 % of adults engaged in household chores due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown across India in April 2020 [18]. During the pandemic, especially mothers spent more time caring for their children and doing household work. Women reported being less happy to the extent that they spent more time doing household work than males [19] Domestic violence is seen as a family problem. Even the authorities are known to fall into this. The excuses were made to the perpetrators, and the victims were expected to move on. Prison-like movement restrictions have exacerbated this during the lockdown [19]. Globally, as more people stay home than ever due to pandemic-related measures and lockdowns, the need for housework and family care has multiplied. Tasks like cooking, shopping, and cleaning, mainly to prevent infection, take longer than ever. The burden of household chores falls under women’s shoulders and is not divided between family members, which creates pressure on women. One woman reported with tears in her eyes , “My husband's family compelling me to do all household chores, and I have to look after my differently abled child. I could not manage all the things alone. My husband does not like what I am cooking.” With many people living under the same roof, women generally take on household chores and childcare. It became evident from the narrative of one participant, “ It is challenging to do all household work while working from home. I have to take care of my child because of school is closed.” Women could not manage “work from home” and “work from home”. The lockdown exacerbated domestic labour for women and the unequal division of parenting responsibilities and household chores. A woman narrated, “My mother-in-law and husband scolded me for not doing all household chores, and if I couldn’t complete any work, my husband slaps me.” Another woman reported, “ My husband always blamed me for everything for my sleeping pattern, the way I am doing household chores and caring my child.” 3.4 Victims are forced to stay with Perpetrators One of the first indicators of less happy marriages is the rising incidence of domestic violence. Under normal circumstances, victims of violence would be able to stay away and go to safer places, but the lockdown made them more vulnerable. Underreporting of domestic and other violence is inherently complex in data collection and response, with less than 40% of female victims of violence seeking help of any kind and less than 10% of women seeking help from the police. The Existing circumstances make reporting even more difficult, including limited access to phones and helplines by women and girls and disruptions to public services such as police, justice and social services. These interruptions can also affect the care and support victims need, such as clinical management of rape, mental health, and psychosocial support. They also create punishment for the perpetrator. In many countries, the law is not on the side of women; one in four countries does not have a special law protecting women from domestic violence [20]. 3.5 The perpetrator watching every move COVID lockdown restricted freedom of movement for all. The Perpetrator and victims were forced to stay under the same roof during the pandemic. These situations lead to a condition wherein the continuous presence of the perpetrator was there with the victim. One woman said, “My husband was always in the house and watching my every move.” The perpetrator was continuously watching every move of the victim, and the victims were unable to come out with the situation. Victims could not access different support systems and redressal mechanisms due to this condition. “ My husband came back from the Gulf. During lockdown, he started to doubt and control me from everything.” 3.6 The Perpetrator using the situation for harassment Perpetrators and victims were forced to stay under the same roof. The perpetrator had many opportunities to note all actions and activities performed by the victim. The perpetrator uses this opportunity to note even the smallest actions for harassing the victims. The ready presence of the victim is also a contributing factor; this leads to anxiety and depression. Every night my husband used to blame me. He will keep remembering all the old things and connect with everyday things and verbally abusing me. 3.7 Without Accessing Different Domestic Violence (DV) Preventing Mechanisms The loneliness of female victims could not be stressful enough. Common support structures such as hospitals, police, government welfare organizations, dedicated phone lines, government-run foster homes, one-stop crisis centres, support teams legal, and the security guards were inactive or busy with duties related to COVID-19[21] As health and other support services, including sexual and reproductive health services, are cut, women experiencing violence may have fewer opportunities to receive support and referrals from the industry. Other essential support services such as helplines, crisis centres, shelters, and legal aid services may also be cut, reducing access to support for women living in abusive relationships[7]. Victims also reported that they were unable to use mobile phones, and their children for online classes used the phones. When they can access the phones, at that time their husband will be present. This situation leads to unable to use smart phones or mobile phones to communicate and reach out to the tertiary support mechanism. One woman reported, “ I could not contact any helpline numbers because my daughter is using my phone for her online class; the rest of the time, my husband will be with me, so I cannot speak to anyone to register my complaints.” Another woman narrated, “ I am trapped in this house, I am unable to make phone calls and make complaints against my husband and his family.” Yet another woman reported, “ I do not want to stay at my in-laws. I want to stay away from this home because my husband’s family is torturing me mentally, but I cannot go anywhere.” In many countries, hotlines, crisis centres, sheltered shelters, legal aid, and essential social services have been reduced or closed due to infection control measures. Survivors of violence have less access to protective services during quarantine. While there is a growing need for access to support services, even access to the justice system is difficult [11]. Many victims fear being overheard or prevented from leaving their homes by an abusive partner, so they use text and email to ask for help [22]. 3.8 Lower Socio-Economic Condition Women who belong to lower socio-economic conditions cannot afford smartphones to access websites such as ‘ Aparajitha’ and ‘Jagratha’, further if they have access also, they do not know how to use the websites and WhatsApp numbers dedicated to domestic violence victims. Some of the women do not know how to use smartphones. One woman narrated, “ I am using my neighbor’s phone to tell my complaint. My husband used to beat me in every night, and he asked for money.” Another issue is women's access to money and sometimes cell phones. If there is only one phone in the house, it belongs to the man in the house, and because of that, they couldn't call for help [21]. 3.9 Unable To Reach Out To People Who Can Help Domestic abusers may also restrict access to money or health-related items such as hand sanitiser, soap, medicine, and access to medical services. Disruption of social networks and protection networks can exacerbate intimate partner violence and its consequences [7]. Women may have less contact with family and friends who support them and protect them from partner violence. Vandals can further restrict access to psychosocial services, as well as help and support from formal and informal networks [7]. The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions induced Corona blues among people. There was a complete restriction on people's mobility. This situation has led to victims being unable to reach out to the secondary support system like friends and relatives who could listen to them and provide counsel. One woman narrated, “ My in-laws and husband are controlling my phone usage, and I cannot contact even my parents.” Many times women confide in another mature relative like a sister-in-law, aunt, or even her own friends; these people provide them a shoulder and compassionate ear and counsel. Such support networks help them to make decisions and maintain their mental health to decide how to deal with situations. However, the lockdown restrictions created a hollow of this secondary support. A woman reported that she was “Unable to meet friends, unable to share anything, now I am feeling very lonely.” One another woman narrated, “ I used to share everything with my cousin. Due to travel restrictions, I could not do that. So I am feeling very sad.” 3.10 Unable To Reach Out To Tertiary Mechanism Tertiary mechanisms like family support centres, NGOs, and police stations were not reachable partly because of movement restrictions and partly because of the proximity of centres. The women who sought help from family, police stations, and women’s support centres had crucial points during the lockdown. They could not reach these places. A woman narrates, “ My husband is a drunkard. If he creates a problem, I used to go for help from Anganwadi teacher and ward member. Nevertheless, due to lockdown restrictions, I am not getting support.” Another woman reported, “ Due to lockdown, I can’t register my domestic violence complaint in the police station, as I am unable to travel and reach the police station.” The availability of services, particularly specialised domestic violence services (like shelters) and related assistance (like counselling), was significantly disrupted by COVID-19. "The DV shelters are all full!" is a common forum post comment [24]. A female victim narrated that "The shelter will not take or release people during COVID" (female victim, U.S.A.), and "Shelters are at capacity. Everything is in lockdown because of COVID-19 [24]. 3.11 Women wanted restitution rather than complaining Some women only need restitution; they are not willing to register complaint against their abusive partner. They were looking for a mechanism that could help them remove the victimisation and allow them to live in the same house. The women were more concerned about their children; victim blaming attitude from society, isolation from friends and family, embarrassment, and economic dependency are the main reasons for staying in abusive relationships. It was clear from the woman's narrative, “ I need someone to talk to my husband because he is always scolding me and my children and demanding money from me. I want to live here, but I do not want this victimisation.” 3.12 The Problems due to the lockdown "One thing that makes violence worse is the idea of social distancing. It makes people believe they cannot interfere in other people's affairs. You have to stay away from people, and there is no way to approach this isolation, which has made things even worse.” [21] The term "social distancing," which the World Health Organization later suggested being replaced with "physical distancing," has become extremely popular since the release of COVID-19. Being isolated from others can negatively affect one's emotional and physical health because humans are social animals. However, due to the lack of treatment and the high number of COVID-19 patients who were asymptomatic, rigorous recommendations for and enforcement of quarantine (for exposed and healthy persons) and isolation (for sick individuals) were made, comparable to the SARS viral outbreak [24]. The fear of catching the coronavirus and uncertainty about the future has caused stress and anxiety in most people. This anxiety is sometimes displaced and directed towards the spouse, which worsens the marital relationship. A woman reported, “My husband is afraid of catching the coronavirus. He is always staying at home, not giving any individual space for me, and always interfering with my work.” Another woman narrated, “As a woman, I do not know how to make space and time for myself. I am feeling completely trapped at home” The female victim of the United States stated, “I was hoping to leave before the pandemic hit, but now I am stuck here." Other people were getting ready to leave as the area was under lockdown. Another woman stated, “I have been contacting houses to move into" and "I am thinking time to make an escape plan, I am trying to find a way out"[23]. Men do not go to work or lose their jobs during this period, leading to poverty, frustration and violence. Not only men but women also lose their jobs during this time, which further increases the possibility of abuse [17]. Disruption of livelihoods and earning capacity reduces access to basic needs and services, leading to additional stress [7]. Fear of losing a job or a salary reduction has induced anxiety in many people. One woman reported, “ I resigned from my job because of my husband. He monitors me continuously and shows suspicious behavior towards me while I work from home.” Nevertheless, another woman reported, “ My husband lost his Gulf job, and he is trying hard to get a new job in our native place. However, he is losing opportunities due to lockdown and remains angry and scolding me and children.” 3.13 Physical Abuse Physical abuse is one of the main forms of domestic violence. In India, physical abuse after marriage, such as choking, slapping, and pulling hair, are considered normal. Lockdown restrictions, difficulty in accessing essential services and stress due to marital disharmony, job insecurity, financial problems, male control and aggressive behavior pave the way to increased physical abuse towards women. A woman reported, “ My husband drinks daily and beats me up and pulls my hair in front of my children.” A woman reported that during the lockdown, the intensity and frequency of physical abuse increased. She narrated, “ My husband’s behavior has become worse now. He lost his job and demanded dowry from my parents, and when I denied him, he used to hurt me physically.” Yet another woman reported, “While working from home, my husband would get drinks and, in a state of intoxication, lose his control and throw things in anger.” Alcohol as a mood enhancer is directly correlated with feelings of anger, frustration, and irritation. Some alcoholic husbands do not drink during this time and, out of frustration, abuse women in intimate relationships [17]. A man's sense of the need to agree to gender norms can be exacerbated by substance abuse, thus shifting the focus to women. This then turned to violence. Due to women's vulnerability, the endless loop can continue from woman to progeny, additional strength from the family of origin, the expected normality of the procreation family, and the difficulty of accessing and providing legal aid services add to the problems [25]. 3.14 The Controlling Behavior, Denying Freedom of Movement The government has imposed quarantines and other travel restrictions, including widespread lockdowns, closures of shops, public spaces and facilities, orders to isolate infected people, and enforced voluntary social distancing. Men used to control women behind closed doors because of their suspicious thoughts due to stress and anxiety. The Women were forced to separate from loved ones and various resources; it became evident from one woman’s narrative, “ My husband never allows me to go outside of the home during the lockdown. My parental home is in Next Street only. But my husband says, if you love me, stay with me always.” Another evident aspect was that the controlling behavior of the husbands extended to control even the social life of the women, which became evident with the narrative of an educated lady, “ My husband always has doubt about me and checks all my social media accounts. I am losing my privacy and social life also.” 3.15 The Frustration due to joblessness According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the spread of the coronavirus would put more than 25 million jobs at risk worldwide. In the 3.3 billion-strong global labor force, it is estimated that complete or partial workplace closures currently impact 81% of workers [26]. According to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). The corresponding last figure before the lockdown was 404 million. This demonstrates that 119 million workers have lost their jobs during the two-week shutdown period. Approximately one-third (60 million households or 300 million people) of India's population or households could face a severe livelihood crisis. Approximately 227 million households are in despair if we assume that half of those who have lost their jobs are the main or sole earning family members of an average of 5-member family size (as per census 2011) households[26]. “ Some days, I stand for hours, but nobody comes to hire, and I return home where my transportation money gets wasted. But I do not have the option to sit at home or hope for a salaried job like earlier. I have to feed my parents, wife, and two kids, pay rent and keep them happy with whatever I can earn. ”(25 years old man) [27] Women who cannot work in this crisis must balance “work from home” and “work for home”. Family perceptions can influence their work habits; additional family responsibilities and conflict can lead to discord. Many people may face a financial crisis, reducing their autonomy within their respective families [6] Many men and women lost their jobs or reduced salaries during the COVID pandemic, leading to an economic crisis in families. This led to an increase in stress and induced violence against women. A narrative woman explains these phenomena: “My husband lost his job, and we have a financial crisis now. All his stress is due to the income loss he is showing towards me.” Low livelihood opportunities and reduced access to basic needs and services lead to additional pressure to run the family. Jobless increased availability of spare time, and inability to constructively use time led to anxiety and frustration. Discussion Due to the complexity of the pandemic crisis and the overwhelming demand on legal, police, and health services to handle and respond to the pandemic, it has been challenging for women to get aid. The women were forced to remain incarcerated with their rapists. The Alarming statistics from the United Nations Development Program show that 243 million women and girls would have experienced physical or sexual violence in the world in 2020[28] The current study made it clear that gender inequities, which were made worse by the pandemic, existed in areas including marital rape, domestic abuse, and the possibility of forced marriage, disproportionately harming girls and young women [27]. Nearly 2.5 times as often as men, women conduct unpaid care and family work globally, and they are more likely to have additional caregiving responsibilities when schools are out, making it harder for them to keep paying employment. Restrictions on people's freedom of movement and other policies that encourage staying at home were a factor in the rise of gender-based violence. Women and girls who have experienced violence were more likely to be subjected to abuser control and restrictions, with little or no access to support. The hotline receives complaints of women who are in danger of losing their houses, getting sick, or having access to their financial resources and medical assistance withdrawn. Being in prison with an abuser can make it more challenging to get help. Due to the difficulty in placing private calls, several hotlines are reporting a decline in contact numbers; however, texting and email usage are reportedly on the rise. Services for victims, including as housing, medical care, police protection, and legal assistance, may be withheld. There are several reports of emergency helplines functioning with decreased service, as well as reports of shelters for victims of gender-based violence being shuttered or converted into homeless shelters. Fear of the infection spreading is another obstacle to receiving services. In order to be admitted, some shelters reportedly required women to submit a negative COVID-19 test, but the test is not commonly accessible [20]. The rights to life, to be free from torture and cruel treatment, to live in a secure environment, and to personal freedom lessened during COVID-19. Social media monitoring by the husband used to violate the wife's right to privacy. The right to freedom of movement was also limited by the law. Women's access to tertiary mechanisms was restricted by travel bans and lockdown measures, which opened the door to torture and silent suffering at the hands of husbands and in-laws. Domestic violence is also a kind of gender discrimination because it targets women differently than males and is based on patriarchal ideas and preconceptions about women's duties in the home. The lockdown measures were applied hastily without considering many social issues. Governments should have considered the structural risk emerging from women’s compelled confinement at houses and followed measures geared toward stopping such danger from concretizing and mitigating any of its unfavorable consequences, each usually and in handling unique cases. At the overall level, in particular, the public government has to look into the local government machinery framework already in the region to counter home violence and additionally apply extra measures tailor-made to the unique desires springing up within side the context of the pandemic. A mechanism was required to consider the potential of shelters and protocols for the care of girls to cover the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing the supply of reporting offerings and developing secured spaces, e.g. pharmacies or supermarkets, in which girls may want to file abuses without alerting perpetrators, enhancing the potential of enforcement and judicial bodies to reply to mentioned violence and elevating their focus on the expanded danger of home abuse. In handling unique cases, the public, as well as the government, should have reinforced safety measures for vulnerable girls and women. For example, through tracking home gadgets with histories of violence, and have to act with promptness with inside the research of mentioned abuses, the prosecution of perpetrators and the availability of vital care to the victims [20] Conclusion The coronavirus spread was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to a situation of lockdown and many restrictions; it had resulted in a shadow pandemic in many women’s lives. The result of the present study showed that women were subjected to conflict, which leads to marital disharmony. Another aspect of the pandemic was that many men and women lost their jobs and had to manage with reduced income. This situation led to economic crisis in families, stress, and anxiety and induced violence against women. The result of unplanned restrictions was that women suffered silent domestic violence and an inability to access primary, secondary and tertiary sources of support and network. A more comprehensive approach with relevant policies was required to prevent domestic violence during the time of lockdown and pandemic. Declarations Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the participants and Women Protection Officers and counsellors of different districts for sharing their experiences Author contributions: The conceptualisation, data collection and analysis, article writing, and content editing are done by both the first and second authors. Funding : This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Data availability: Due to its sensitivity, the data used for the current study is unavailable in any repositories. It is kept confidential with the researchers and cannot be shared based on the participants’ and the counsellors’ requests. Competing interests : The authors declare no competing interests. References Violence against women [Internet]. World Health Organization; 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 23]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women Seth, P. Decoding the Extent to Which Domestic Violence Is Under-Reported in India. [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 May 25]. Available from: https://thewire.in/women/domestic-violence-india-underreported Krishnakumar A, Verma S. Understanding domestic violence in India during covid-19: A routine activity approach. Asian Journal of Criminology. 2021 Mar;16(1):19–35. doi:10.1007/s11417-020-09340-1 Maji S, Bansod S, Singh T. Domestic violence during covid‐19 pandemic: The case for Indian women. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 2021 Jan 11;32(3):374–81. doi:10.1002/casp.2501 Mlambo-Ngcuka P. Violence against women and girls: the shadow pandemic [Internet]. UN Women. 2020. Available from: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/4/statement-ed-phumzile-violence-against-women-during-pandemic Nair VS, Banerjee D. “Crisis within the walls”: rise of intimate partner violence during the pandemic, Indian perspectives. Frontiers in global women's health. 2021;2. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2021.614310 Roesch E, Amin A, Gupta J, García-Moreno C. Violence against women during covid-19 pandemic restrictions. BMJ [Internet]. 2020 May 7;369:m1712. Available from: https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1712.full UN Women. Measuring the shadow pandemic: Violence against women during COVID-19 [Internet]. UN Women Data Hub. 2021. Available from: https://data.unwomen.org/publications/vaw-rga Ford, L. “calamitous”: Domestic violence set to soar by 20% during global lockdown [Internet]. Guardian News and Media; 2020 [cited 2020 May 17]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/apr/28/calamitous-domestic-violence-set-to-soar-by-20-during-global-lockdown-coronavirus Wenham C, Smith J, Morgan R. Covid-19: The gendered impacts of the outbreak. The Lancet. 2020 Mar;395(10227):846–8. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30526-2 Sri AS, Das P, Gnanapragasam S, Persaud A. COVID-19 and the violence against women and girls:‘The shadow pandemic’. International journal of social psychiatry. 2021 Dec;67(8):971-3. doi:10.1177/0020764021995556 UN Women. Press release: UN Women raises awareness of the shadow pandemic of violence against women during COVID-19 [Internet]. UN Women. 2020. Available from: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/5/press-release-the-shadow-pandemic-of-violence-against-women-during-covid-19 Maiti DT, Singh DS, Innamuri DR, Hasija MAD. Marital distress during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: a brief narrative. International Journal of Indian Psychology [Internet]. 2020 May 25;Cognitive Study. Available from: https://ijip.in/articles/marital-distress-during-covid-19-pandemic-and-lockdown-a-brief-narrative/ Abhayan. Types of marital rape [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2020 Jul 19]. Available from: https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-5571-types-of-marital-rape.html Situmorang JR, Susanti V. The role of victim’s assistant to prevent secondary victimization : Case women victim of marital rape. HUMANISMA : Journal of Gender Studies. 2021 Dec 31;5(2):106–18. doi:10.30983/humanisme.v5i2.4709 Basu S. A parallel pandemic as domestic abuse victims trapped with their abusers. The Hindu [Internet]. 2020 Apr 20; Available from: https://www.thehindu.com/society/covid-19-lockdown-domestic-abuse-victims-trapped-with-abusers/article31388228.ece Ravichandran P, Shah AK, Ravichandran P. Shadow pandemic: Domestic violence and child abuse during the COVID-19 lockdown in India. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. 2020 Jul 24;8(8):3118–21. doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20203477 Rathore M. India: Covid-19 lockdown activities 2020 [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 29]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1111152/india-coronavirus-lockdown-activities/ Giurge LM, Whillans AV, Yemiscigil A. A multicountry perspective on gender differences in time use during COVID-19. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021 Mar 8;118(12). doi:10.1073/pnas.2018494118 UN Women. COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls [Internet]. 2020. Available from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/Library/Publications/2020/Issue-brief-COVID-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-en.pdf Bavadam L. Domestic violence during COVID lockdown [Internet]. Frontline. Available from: https://frontline.thehindu.com/social-issues/gender/domestic-violence-during-covid-lockdown/article38034608.ece Graham-Harrison E, Athens AGHS in, Ford L. Lockdowns around the world bring rise in domestic violence. The Guardian [Internet]. 2020 Mar 28; Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/28/lockdowns-world-rise-domestic-violence Lyons M, Brewer G. Experiences of intimate partner violence during lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family Violence. 2021 Feb 26;37(6):969–77. doi:10.1007/s10896-021-00260-x Medicine I of, Health B on G, Threats F on M. Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak: Workshop Summary [Internet]. Google Books. National Academies Press; 2004 [cited 2024 May 19]. Available from: https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=eBidAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=(Knobler Berg MJ, Kremelberg D, Dwivedi P, Verma S, Schensul JJ, Gupta K, et al. The effects of husband’s alcohol consumption on married women in three low-income areas of Greater Mumbai. AIDS and Behavior. 2010 Jun 11;14(S1):126–35. doi:10.1007/s10461-010-9735-7 Mehta P, Garg N, Gharib M, Mehak, Pimpunchat B. Social support during COVID-19: Exploring the psychometric properties of the PSS-JSAS and its relationship with Job Search Activities. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences. 2023 Feb;85:1–7. doi:10.1016/j.seps.2022.101349 Torgalkar V. Long after Lockdowns, India’s youth still struggle to find work [Internet]. Al Jazeera; 2022 [cited 2022 Jul 1]. Available from: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/2/3/after-lockdowns-indias-youth-still-struggling-to-find-work Gender-based violence and COVID-19 | United Nations Development Programme [Internet]. www.undp.org. Available from: https://www.undp.org/publications/gender-based-violence-and-covid-19 World Economic Forum. Global Gender Gap Report 2021 [Internet]. World Economic Forum. 2021. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2021/ Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3972617","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":312579968,"identity":"fff9c567-dd4f-4157-af59-74e872351904","order_by":0,"name":"ATHIRA KRISHNAN KT","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABEUlEQVRIie3RMWrDMBQGYAlBsrh4lRG0V1AwhBgXfBVpqZe0JWTpEIqDQV18AOcWnUq3viBQFx/AYyAX8GjoUtlji0zGQvUPGsT79PQkhHx8/mBCQgBwQRAiuDx14x4MC3WS6EXJ00jmpVnUlxDeNDEfSWAECy66WSuWbPOeZrxd8/h2px/DPeCuR6sHl8C1uGOHJpevlpzXRic1AIkqRLcuQqgw7EppsRy63BeaIwDE7CyycJAZlWog2UBYYsmN7fI1RYJAk9gS/NbY8bElHGA22YXOFT4fVC4/Pu0jVybnCziqpOJukumw0xuVZlFpv7Lfpfy61brtn56dZHyCH42PtphP1P8m4dTxPj4+Pv8x36tlX3wG/IEjAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Central University of Rajasthan","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"ATHIRA","middleName":"KRISHNAN","lastName":"KT","suffix":""},{"id":312579970,"identity":"b4168c85-b8a1-49dc-b4d1-1bcc4f150867","order_by":1,"name":"Dr. ATIQ AHMED","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Central University of Rajasthan","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"Dr.","firstName":"ATIQ","middleName":"","lastName":"AHMED","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-02-20 11:14:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972617/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972617/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":71737719,"identity":"10b7d10b-201f-4098-9922-507467e16ca4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-12-18 07:39:48","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":495059,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3972617/v1/ce0af86a-ec13-4e9f-b305-649480ee7c86.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Lockdown-induced Shadow Pandemic: A Phenomenological Interpretation of Domestic Violence in Kerala","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eViolence against women is recognized internationally as an act of human rights violation and is a significant problem faced by women. Estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (30%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime\u003csub\u003e[1]\u003c/sub\u003e Domestic violence is deeply entrenched and widely prevalent in India. The number of reported complaints of domestic violence received by the National Commission for Women rose sharply from 2,960 in 2019 to 5,297 in 2020, the year of the lockdown when most people were confined to their homes due to COVID-19.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2019 reports that a majority (30.9%) of all the 4.05 lakh cases of crimes against women are registered under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]; according to Crime data, Kerala reported 56 dowry deaths from 2016 to 2020, and 1080 cases have been registered till April in connection with harassment of women by husbands or relatives[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. The different types of domestic violence include physical abuse, sexual abuse, Verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse. Some of the leading factors of Domestic violence are aggressive attitude, depression, stress, economic hardship, controlling nature, drug addiction, extramarital affairs, lack of trust, patriarchy and superiority complex, Dowry system etc.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec2\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1.1. COVID-19 and the Shadow Pandemic\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo prevent the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) many measures were imposed by the Govt. of India, such as social distancing, avoiding public gatherings, limiting the number of home visitors, staying at home more often, keeping a safe distance from others, and meeting online rather than in person with friends and family). On 24th March 2020, the government of India declared a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, which was extended for almost four months. Lockdown means staying home only to buy essentials, reducing the number of outings, and ideally allowing only one of her healthy family members to travel when necessary. The COVID-19 restrictions led to a shadow of the pandemic. During the lockdown, the public was forced to stay back in the confines of their homes. This led to only the functioning of essential services and the restriction of people from moving out of their houses. The situation led to women being forced to stay with families. One in three women worldwide had experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly from an intimate partner.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown resulted in drastic crises for the lives and lives of the world's entire population [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global healthcare problem. Beyond public health, it affects the daily lives of billions of people, leaving them isolated or separated from their families for longer than ever before[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHousehold stress can increase an intimate partner's likelihood of violence. When people are at home, families spend more time in close contact, even in cramped conditions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Newspapers reporting on domestic violence cases over the past 5 years were analysed to understand the issues related to the spike in domestic violence cases during the COVID-19 lockdown period. There has been a significant increase in domestic violence cases during the COVID-19 period compared with previous years. In addition, cases were higher in the early stages of the pandemic but decreased over time. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women is unprecedented and worse than before. Home confinement as a measure to protect the health and well-being of the public has increased women's suffering from both misery and domestic violence [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e] [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1.2. Statistics of domestic violence during COVID 19\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe National Commission for Women reported the highest number of complaints filed 68 days after the lockdown ended than in the period over 10 years. The Commission received 23,722 complaints in 2020. The breakup of complaints reported showed that 45% of women said they or a woman they know has experienced violence against women since COVID-19. One in every four women reported that conflict in families has become more frequent and feel more unsafe in their homes. 48% of women aged between 18 to 49 have experienced the highest violence during COVID-19. Another 33% of unemployed women and 26% of employed women feel less safe at home during COVID-19. 7 in 10 women said they thought abuse, verbal or physical, from a sexual partner has become more common. 3 in 10 women whose condition has worsened believe that violence in their community is greater than before [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe researchers also predict that up to 44\u0026nbsp;million women in 114 low-and middle-income countries will not be able to access contraception if Covid-19 embargoes and restrictions continue in three months and cause major service disruptions. This will lead to about 1\u0026nbsp;million unwanted pregnancies.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. There is currently no equivalent method on the helpline, which makes it difficult for them, thus increasing the rates of unprotected sex, forced sex, pregnancy and rape in women [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMost women stay away or avoid reporting to the police because of fear, resistance, or fear of being taken advantage of by the police. They tend not to go ahead and come for help, which increases the difficulty. It cannot be generalised because the exact number is eager to help. Some terrible encounters, as a rule, pollute the whole picture. Social stigma and self-stigmatization associated with disclosure and family normalisation continue to lead to underreporting [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe recent merging data highlight that since the COVID-19 outbreak, violence against women and girls, including domestic violence and interpersonal sexual abuse, has increased in one number of countries. It is intuitively certain that in these times of stress, being confined to the home without access to support systems, the increased risk is a cause for concern and appropriate resolution [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWomen's security is the gateway to basic health, living standards, empowerment, and a necessary condition for achieving gender equality. Stay-at-home orders to limit the spread of COVID-19 had the potential to trap the women with their abusers, creating dangerous conditions of violence against women, often with tragic consequences. The study by UN Women has found that violence against women and girls has increased since the COVID-19 outbreak. This has coincided in many countries with reductions in victim support services, partly due to operational difficulties and reduced funding for law enforcement agencies and grassroots women's organisations. Service delivery Social isolation is considered one of the major risk factors leading to episodes of intimate partner violence; this evidence also appears in the implementation of containment policies to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eViolence against women is a violation of human rights, often with serious immediate and long-term consequences. Women around the world experience it in various forms, settings, frequency and severity levels at the hands of close partners, family members or others. Furthermore, women's feelings of insecurity limit their lives in many ways, hindering their health as well as their civil, political, economic and social rights.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Research design\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present research focuses on exploring the phenomenological interpretive experiences of domestic violence among married women in the Malabar region of Kerala during the COVID-19 lockdown. The research sought to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the COVID pandemic on vulnerable populations during lockdown. The lockdown as a phenomenon and the experiences of domestic violence of the women under the shadow of pandemic lockdown was explored. When the state and central government bodies enforced complete lockdown, the women were forced to stay back with their families. The resources available in the home were shared by all residents. Many women lived with 24 hours of the existence of other family members, which became a constant source of stress. Furthermore, the spouses who were working abroad and living out of station returned back to home. This complicated the situation. During this duration the women faced different types of domestic violence and mechanism to redress was not easily accessible. After the lockdown normalized the women who had faced violence started to report and seek support from secondary and tertiary support sources.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Participants\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe women who had registered in women's helpline centers to seek redressal for violence faced during the COVID lockdown were contacted. Those women willing to narrate their experiences were included as participants in this research. Thirty five women were willing to participate and share their experiences. The age group of women participants was between 24 to 42 years. The participants had primary to collegiate levels of education and hailed from poor to middle socio-economic conditions. All the women were married and living with their spouses or in their in-laws home.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Procedure\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e The participants were interviewed in a face-to-face interaction. A guide to interview was developed which assisted the researcher to acquire comprehensive insights into the nature and types of violence experienced, any prior history of abuse, and interventions undertaken by engaging with counsellors and case records. Handwritten notes and voice recordings were used as methods after availing informed consent from the participants. Narratives of Thirty-Five women who were victims of domestic violence were analyzed. The interviews were transcribed and the narrative records were subjected to thematic analysis, yielding diverse emergent themes discussed under distinct headings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4 Ethical Guidelines Followed\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e The present research is part of the ongoing doctoral research program and has been granted ethical clearance and a certificate of Ethical acceptability of research involving humans by the \u0026lsquo;Board of Studies in Social Work, Central University of Rajasthan\u0026rsquo; number BOS.F02/2024.1 to be in compliance with the ethical guidelines laid by the Institution/University Grants Commission of India.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe researcher had taken care to keep the personal information and identity of the women confidential. The researcher also provided psychosocial support for the victims in distress. Follow-up telephonic calls were also made to ensure the well-being of the participants. Those women in high distress were provided with further psychosocial support. The study ensured strict anonymity and confidentiality of the participants and the narration of intimate violence experiences. The research data does not involve any experimentation with behavior modification or collection of human tissue etc.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.5 Informed Consent\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrior to participation in this study, all participants were provided with a detailed explanation of the research objectives, written informed consent was obtained from each participant as per the ethical guidelines.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eSince the COVID-19 outbreak, new data and reports from frontline workers show that all types of violence against women and girls, especially domestic violence, are on the rise. As COVID-19 cases increased, violence shelters and helplines had reached operational capacity. \u0026nbsp;The women had to stay put in their homes where they were residing. In the present study, the narratives of women show that several of the factors and situations contributed to the domestic violence which emerged out. The findings are reported with relevant narratives under different themes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.1. Marital\u0026nbsp;Disharmony\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarital disharmony is when married couples have disagreements and unpleasant feelings.\u0026nbsp;Married couples were stuck in their home under the same roof during the lockdown.\u0026nbsp;They were forced to interact and engage with each other in many\u0026nbsp;different ways. They had to deal with interpersonal problems that could have been\u0026nbsp;avoided by engaging in regular routines, work, and social interactions.\u0026nbsp;One of the victims narrated, \u0026ldquo;Lockdown worsens all things.\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;I am realizing that we had a toxic relationship. I do not\u0026nbsp;want\u0026nbsp;to stay\u0026nbsp;in this relationship anymore.\u0026nbsp;I need separation\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;my\u0026nbsp;husband.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLower socialisation with family and friends, compatibility issues with in-laws, personal\u0026nbsp;factors such as depression, anxiety, increased stress, anger and less satisfaction in marriage\u0026nbsp;life, rejection of women\u0026apos;s traditional \u0026quot;housewife\u0026quot; roles, unrealistic expectations from the\u0026nbsp;partner,\u0026nbsp;increased\u0026nbsp;family\u0026nbsp;responsibilities\u0026nbsp;during\u0026nbsp;COVID\u0026nbsp;pandemic\u0026nbsp;induced\u0026nbsp;marital\u0026nbsp;disharmony\u0026nbsp;between\u0026nbsp;married\u0026nbsp;couples\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;negatively\u0026nbsp;affected\u0026nbsp;marital\u0026nbsp;life.\u0026nbsp;Marital\u0026nbsp;disharmony leads to conflict between couples. It is evident from one of the victims who\u0026nbsp;related,\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eHusband and I\u0026nbsp;stayed\u0026nbsp;separately\u0026nbsp;due\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;lockdown\u0026nbsp;announcement\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;communication gap created detachment among us. We fight for little things, and that creates stress for me.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pandemic\u0026apos;s overall financial, emotional and physical stress has forced some\u0026nbsp;people to scrutinize their partners. Tensions are high, and there is nowhere to go in that\u0026nbsp;situation. One of the wives reported \u0026ldquo;My husband and I are having a \u003cem\u003elot of adjustment issues\u0026nbsp;these\u0026nbsp;days.\u0026nbsp;We\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;arguing for\u0026nbsp;silly things,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;feel trapped\u0026nbsp;in this\u0026nbsp;house.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has already been proven that spending more time together in close proximity increases the\u0026nbsp;possibility of divorce. One of the victims reported\u003cstrong\u003e,\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026ldquo;We are not enjoying life now; lockdown\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003estuck\u0026nbsp;us in this\u0026nbsp;home.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn abrupt announcement of a nationwide lockdown led to a situation where physical and\u0026nbsp;emotional\u0026nbsp;separation\u0026nbsp;resulted\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;what\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;described\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;\u0026apos;pseudo-long\u0026nbsp;distance\u0026nbsp;relationship,\u0026apos; particularly affecting couples geographically apart. Conversely, some couples\u0026nbsp;deliberately used this physical distancing following an argument to resolve their conflicts.\u0026nbsp;However, the lockdown prevented them from employing their usual strategy of taking a break\u0026nbsp;from each other, potentially exacerbating their disagreements. Even couples living together\u0026nbsp;faced\u0026nbsp;heightened\u0026nbsp;anxiety\u0026nbsp;about\u0026nbsp;transmitting\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;illness\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;each\u0026nbsp;other,\u0026nbsp;accompanied\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;feelings\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;guilt.\u0026nbsp;Furthermore,\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;stigma\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;attached,\u0026nbsp;particularly\u0026nbsp;targeting\u0026nbsp;healthcare\u0026nbsp;workers and other\u0026nbsp;vulnerable individuals [13].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost of the contributing factors to marital disharmony are people who are stressed and\u0026nbsp;anxious because they are afraid of catching the coronavirus and are apprehensive about the\u0026nbsp;future. This anxiety is sometimes transferred and directed at the spouse, causing the marital\u0026nbsp;relationship to worsen. Faulty communication patterns such as communication with lack of\u0026nbsp;respect, adequate use of words, appropriate tone, and body language may hamper marital\u0026nbsp;harmony,\u0026nbsp;Unrealistic expectations\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;a spouse, Job\u0026nbsp;loss/salary cut,\u0026nbsp;Couples\u0026nbsp;who stay\u0026nbsp;separately due to work requirements might end up having frequent conflicts concerning\u0026nbsp;each\u0026nbsp;other\u0026rsquo;s\u0026nbsp;living\u0026nbsp;styles[13].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.2. Marital\u0026nbsp;Rape\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the manifestations of this domestic violence is marital rape, the practice of forcing\u0026nbsp;one\u0026rsquo;s partner to have sex without proper consent, is an unjust but uncommon way to degrade\u0026nbsp;and displace women\u0026apos;s power.\u0026nbsp;According to the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21),\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;among married women aged 18-49 who have experienced sexual violence, 83% said their\u0026nbsp;current husband and 13% said her ex-husband as the perpetrator.\u0026nbsp;It is not fair that the women\u0026nbsp;undergo forceful penetration, and the men enjoy that situation. One woman narrated, \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;My\u0026nbsp;husband forcing me to have intercourse several times a\u0026nbsp;day.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhysical\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;psychological\u0026nbsp;incompatibility\u0026nbsp;over\u0026nbsp;addiction\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;pornography\u0026nbsp;leads\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;unrealistic expectations and a dissatisfied sexual life.\u0026nbsp;This became evident with narratives of\u0026nbsp;women, wherein one victim said, \u0026ldquo;My husband started watching porn videos and forcing me to do accordingly,\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;which\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;not\u0026nbsp;comfortable\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;me.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eAnother\u0026nbsp;woman\u0026nbsp;narrated\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;h\u003cem\u003ee\u0026nbsp;got drunk every night and always forced me to do unwanted penetration.\u0026nbsp;I am going through\u0026nbsp;unpleasant sexual experiences.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eOne another victim reported, \u0026ldquo;My husband became addicted to porn videos and forced me to watch those videos,\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;and he is dissatisfied with the sexual\u0026nbsp;relationship\u0026nbsp;and then scolded for that.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUN Women\u0026nbsp;has\u0026nbsp;referred\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;rise\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;Violence\u0026nbsp;against\u0026nbsp;Women\u0026nbsp;during the\u0026nbsp;coronavirus\u0026nbsp;disease\u0026nbsp;2019\u0026nbsp;(COVID-19)\u0026nbsp;pandemic\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;accompanying\u0026nbsp;lockdowns\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u0026lsquo;Shadow\u0026nbsp;Pandemic\u0026rsquo;\u0026nbsp;(UN\u0026nbsp;Women,\u0026nbsp;2020). \u0026nbsp; The term marital rape (also referred to as spousal rape) refers to unwanted intercourse by a\u0026nbsp;man on his wife obtained by force, threat of force or physical violence or when she is unable\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;give consent.\u0026nbsp;The word unwanted intercourse refers to\u0026nbsp;all\u0026nbsp;sorts\u0026nbsp;of penetration\u0026nbsp;(anal,\u0026nbsp;vaginal\u0026nbsp;or oral)\u0026nbsp;perpetrated against her will or without\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;consent [14].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWomen are not sexual objects; they are human beings with the same rights as men to defend\u0026nbsp;their bodies from all sorts of violence as a manifestation of their self-worth. In practice,\u0026nbsp;however, men frequently exploit women as sexual objects. Rape affects not just unmarried\u0026nbsp;women\u0026nbsp;but also married\u0026nbsp;women. [15]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 34-year-old lady whose spouse had left her for another woman after abandoning her for\u0026nbsp;eight\u0026nbsp;years\u0026nbsp;unexpectedly\u0026nbsp;came\u0026nbsp;back\u0026nbsp;during\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;COVID\u0026nbsp;lockdown.\u0026nbsp;Now,\u0026nbsp;he\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;regularly\u0026nbsp;abusing\u0026nbsp;her sexually [16]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe absence of thought on healthy sexuality and intimacy practices is prevalent during this\u0026nbsp;pandemic, which often leads to sexual frustration and coercive and risky sexual interactions.\u0026nbsp;Banerjee\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;Rao,\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;their\u0026nbsp;detailed\u0026nbsp;review\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;sexual\u0026nbsp;well-being\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;intimacy\u0026nbsp;during\u0026nbsp;pandemics,\u0026nbsp;highlight\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;possible\u0026nbsp;rise\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;coercive\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;non-consensual\u0026nbsp;sexual\u0026nbsp;practices,\u0026nbsp;sexual deviations, and increased marital disharmony during the ongoing crisis, all of which\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;contribute\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;gender-based stress\u0026nbsp;and violence\u0026nbsp;[10].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.3 Domestic\u0026nbsp;Labor\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;important\u0026nbsp;reasons for domestic violence is domestic labour; the burden of household chores falls under women\u0026rsquo;s shoulders, and it is not divided between family members, which creates pressure on women [17]. With many people living under the\u0026nbsp;same\u0026nbsp;roof,\u0026nbsp;women\u0026nbsp;generally\u0026nbsp;take\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;household\u0026nbsp;chores\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;well\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;childcare\u0026nbsp;since\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;conventional structure, role stress and role allocation can go unmanaged and satisfactory, leading\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;difficulties in the\u0026nbsp;form of hostility\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;anxiety\u0026nbsp;[6].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Statista April 2020, 59 % of adults engaged in household chores due to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;coronavirus\u0026nbsp;(COVID-19)\u0026nbsp;lockdown across India in\u0026nbsp;April\u0026nbsp;2020\u0026nbsp;[18].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the pandemic, especially mothers spent more time caring for their children and doing\u0026nbsp;household work. Women reported being less happy to the extent that they spent more time\u0026nbsp;doing\u0026nbsp;household work than males [19]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDomestic violence is seen as a family problem. Even the authorities are known to fall into\u0026nbsp;this. The\u0026nbsp;excuses\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;made\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;perpetrators,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;victims\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;expected\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;move\u0026nbsp;on.\u0026nbsp;Prison-like movement restrictions have exacerbated this during the lockdown\u0026nbsp;[19].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlobally, as more people stay home than ever due to pandemic-related measures\u0026nbsp;and lockdowns, the need for housework and family care has multiplied.\u0026nbsp;Tasks like cooking,\u0026nbsp;shopping, and cleaning, mainly to prevent infection, take longer than ever. The\u0026nbsp;burden of household chores falls under women\u0026rsquo;s shoulders and is not divided between family members, which creates pressure on women.\u0026nbsp;One woman reported with tears in her eyes\u003cem\u003e, \u0026ldquo;My husband\u0026apos;s family compelling me to do all household chores, and I have\u0026nbsp;to look after my\u0026nbsp;differently abled child. I could not manage all the things alone. My husband does not like what\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;am\u0026nbsp;cooking.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith many people living under\u0026nbsp;the same roof,\u0026nbsp;women\u0026nbsp;generally take on household chores\u0026nbsp;and childcare.\u0026nbsp;It became evident from the narrative of one participant, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eIt is challenging to\u0026nbsp;do all household work while working from home. I have to take care of my child because of\u0026nbsp;school\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;closed.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWomen could not manage \u0026ldquo;work from home\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;work from home\u0026rdquo;. The lockdown\u0026nbsp;exacerbated domestic labour for women and\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;unequal division of parenting responsibilities\u0026nbsp;and household chores.\u0026nbsp;A woman narrated, \u0026ldquo;My mother-in-law and husband scolded me for not doing all household chores, and if I couldn\u0026rsquo;t complete any work,\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;my husband slaps\u0026nbsp;me.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eAnother woman reported, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband always blamed me for everything for my\u0026nbsp;sleeping\u0026nbsp;pattern, the\u0026nbsp;way\u0026nbsp;I am\u0026nbsp;doing household chores\u0026nbsp;and caring my\u0026nbsp;child.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.4 Victims\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;forced\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;stay\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;Perpetrators\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;first\u0026nbsp;indicators\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;less\u0026nbsp;happy\u0026nbsp;marriages\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;rising\u0026nbsp;incidence\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;domestic\u0026nbsp;violence. Under normal circumstances, victims of violence would be able to stay away and go\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;safer\u0026nbsp;places,\u0026nbsp;but\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;lockdown\u0026nbsp;made\u0026nbsp;them\u0026nbsp;more\u0026nbsp;vulnerable.\u0026nbsp;Underreporting\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;domestic\u0026nbsp;and other violence is inherently complex in data collection and response, with less than 40%\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;female\u0026nbsp;victims\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;violence\u0026nbsp;seeking\u0026nbsp;help\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;any\u0026nbsp;kind\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;less\u0026nbsp;than\u0026nbsp;10%\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;women\u0026nbsp;seeking help from the police. The\u0026nbsp;Existing circumstances make reporting even more difficult, including\u0026nbsp;limited access to phones and helplines by women and girls and disruptions to public\u0026nbsp;services such as police, justice and social services. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;These interruptions can also affect the\u0026nbsp;care and support victims need, such as clinical management of rape, mental health, and\u0026nbsp;psychosocial support. They also create punishment for the perpetrator. In many countries, the\u0026nbsp;law is not on the side of women; one in four countries does not have a special law protecting\u0026nbsp;women\u0026nbsp;from domestic\u0026nbsp;violence [20].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.5 The perpetrator\u0026nbsp;watching\u0026nbsp;every move\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCOVID lockdown restricted freedom of movement for all. The Perpetrator and victims were\u0026nbsp;forced to stay under the same roof during the pandemic. These situations lead to a condition\u0026nbsp;wherein the continuous presence of the perpetrator was there with the victim. One woman\u0026nbsp;said, \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;My husband was always in the house and watching my every\u0026nbsp;move.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eThe perpetrator was continuously watching every move of the victim, and the victims\u0026nbsp;were unable to come out with the situation. Victims could not access different support\u0026nbsp;systems and redressal mechanisms due to this condition. \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband came back from the Gulf.\u0026nbsp;During lockdown, he\u0026nbsp;started to doubt and control me\u0026nbsp;from everything.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.6 The Perpetrator\u0026nbsp;using\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;situation for\u0026nbsp;harassment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerpetrators and victims were forced to stay under the same roof. \u0026nbsp;The perpetrator had many opportunities to note all actions and activities performed by the victim. \u0026nbsp;The perpetrator uses this opportunity to note even the smallest actions for harassing the\u0026nbsp;victims. \u0026nbsp; The ready presence of the victim is also a contributing factor; this leads to anxiety and depression. \u003cem\u003eEvery night my husband used to blame\u0026nbsp;me. He will keep remembering all the old things and connect with everyday things and\u0026nbsp;verbally\u0026nbsp;abusing me.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.7 Without\u0026nbsp;Accessing\u0026nbsp;Different\u0026nbsp;Domestic Violence (DV)\u0026nbsp;Preventing\u0026nbsp;Mechanisms\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe loneliness of female victims could not be stressful enough. Common support structures\u0026nbsp;such\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;hospitals,\u0026nbsp;police,\u0026nbsp;government\u0026nbsp;welfare\u0026nbsp;organizations,\u0026nbsp;dedicated\u0026nbsp;phone\u0026nbsp;lines,\u0026nbsp;government-run foster homes, one-stop crisis centres, support teams legal, and the security\u0026nbsp;guards\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;inactive\u0026nbsp;or busy\u0026nbsp;with duties related to COVID-19[21]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs health and other support services, including sexual and reproductive health services, are\u0026nbsp;cut,\u0026nbsp;women\u0026nbsp;experiencing violence may have\u0026nbsp;fewer opportunities\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;receive\u0026nbsp;support\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;referrals\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;industry.\u0026nbsp;Other\u0026nbsp;essential\u0026nbsp;support\u0026nbsp;services\u0026nbsp;such\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;helplines,\u0026nbsp;crisis\u0026nbsp;centres, shelters, and legal aid services may also be cut, reducing access to support for women living in\u0026nbsp;abusive\u0026nbsp;relationships[7].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVictims also reported that they were unable to use mobile phones, and their children for online\u0026nbsp;classes used the phones.\u0026nbsp;When they can access the phones, at that time their husband will be\u0026nbsp;present.\u0026nbsp;This situation leads to unable to use smart phones or mobile phones to communicate\u0026nbsp;and reach out to the tertiary support mechanism.\u0026nbsp;One woman reported, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eI could not contact\u0026nbsp;any helpline numbers because my daughter is using my phone for her online class; the rest of the time,\u0026nbsp;my\u0026nbsp;husband\u0026nbsp;will be\u0026nbsp;with me,\u0026nbsp;so\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;cannot speak\u0026nbsp;to anyone\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;register\u0026nbsp;my\u0026nbsp;complaints.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother woman narrated, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eI am trapped in this house, I am unable to make phone calls and\u0026nbsp;make complaints against my husband and his family.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eYet another woman reported, \u003cstrong\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eI do not\u0026nbsp;want to stay at my in-laws. I want to stay away from this home because my husband\u0026rsquo;s family is\u0026nbsp;torturing\u0026nbsp;me\u0026nbsp;mentally, but I\u0026nbsp;cannot go anywhere.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn many countries, hotlines, crisis centres, sheltered shelters, legal aid, and essential social services have been reduced or closed due to infection control measures. Survivors of\u0026nbsp;violence have less access to protective services during quarantine. While there is a growing\u0026nbsp;need for access to support services, even access to the justice system is difficult [11]. Many victims fear being overheard or prevented from leaving their homes by an abusive partner, so they use\u0026nbsp;text\u0026nbsp;and email\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;ask for\u0026nbsp;help [22].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.8 Lower\u0026nbsp;Socio-Economic\u0026nbsp;Condition\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWomen who belong to lower socio-economic conditions cannot afford smartphones to\u0026nbsp;access websites such as \u0026lsquo;\u003cem\u003eAparajitha\u0026rsquo; and \u0026lsquo;Jagratha\u0026rsquo;, further if they have access also,\u003c/em\u003e they do not\u0026nbsp;know how to use the websites and \u003cem\u003eWhatsApp\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003enumbers dedicated to domestic violence\u0026nbsp;victims.\u0026nbsp;Some of the women do not know how to use smartphones. One woman narrated, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eI\u0026nbsp;am using my neighbor\u0026rsquo;s phone to tell my complaint. My husband used to beat me in every\u0026nbsp;night,\u0026nbsp;and he\u0026nbsp;asked for money.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother issue is women\u0026apos;s access to money and sometimes cell phones. If there is only one\u0026nbsp;phone in the house, it belongs to the man in the house, and because of that, they couldn\u0026apos;t call for\u0026nbsp;help\u0026nbsp;[21].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.9 Unable\u0026nbsp;To\u0026nbsp;Reach\u0026nbsp;Out To\u0026nbsp;People\u0026nbsp;Who Can\u0026nbsp;Help\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDomestic abusers may also restrict access to money or health-related items such as hand\u0026nbsp;sanitiser, soap, medicine, and access to medical services. Disruption of social networks and\u0026nbsp;protection networks can exacerbate intimate partner violence and its consequences [7].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWomen may have less contact with family and friends who support them and protect them\u0026nbsp;from partner violence. Vandals can further restrict access to psychosocial services, as well as help and\u0026nbsp;support from formal and informal networks [7]. The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions\u0026nbsp;induced Corona blues among people. There was a complete restriction on people\u0026apos;s mobility.\u0026nbsp;This situation has led to victims being unable to reach out to the secondary support\u0026nbsp;system like friends and relatives who could listen to them and provide counsel.\u0026nbsp;One woman\u0026nbsp;narrated, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy in-laws and husband are controlling my phone usage, and I cannot contact even my\u0026nbsp;parents.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany times women confide in another mature relative like a sister-in-law, aunt, or even\u0026nbsp;her own friends; these people provide them a shoulder and compassionate ear and counsel.\u0026nbsp;Such support networks help them to make decisions and maintain their\u0026nbsp;mental health to decide how to deal with situations.\u0026nbsp;However, the lockdown restrictions\u0026nbsp;created a hollow of this secondary support.\u0026nbsp;A woman reported that she was \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Unable to meet\u0026nbsp;friends, unable to share anything, now I am feeling very lonely.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eOne another woman\u0026nbsp;narrated, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eI used to share everything with my cousin. Due to travel restrictions, I could not do\u0026nbsp;that.\u0026nbsp;So I\u0026nbsp;am feeling very\u0026nbsp;sad.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.10 Unable\u0026nbsp;To\u0026nbsp;Reach\u0026nbsp;Out\u0026nbsp;To\u0026nbsp;Tertiary Mechanism\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTertiary mechanisms like family support centres, NGOs, and police stations were not reachable partly because of movement restrictions and partly because of the proximity\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;centres.\u0026nbsp;The women who sought help from family, police stations, and women\u0026rsquo;s support centres had\u0026nbsp;crucial points during the lockdown.\u0026nbsp;They could not reach these places.\u0026nbsp;A woman narrates,\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband is a drunkard. If he creates a problem, I used to go for help from Anganwadi\u0026nbsp;teacher and ward member. Nevertheless, due to lockdown restrictions, I am not getting support.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eAnother woman reported, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eDue to lockdown, I can\u0026rsquo;t register my domestic violence complaint\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;police\u0026nbsp;station, as\u0026nbsp;I am\u0026nbsp;unable to travel and reach the\u0026nbsp;police\u0026nbsp;station.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe availability of services, particularly specialised domestic violence services (like shelters)\u0026nbsp;and related assistance (like counselling), was significantly disrupted by COVID-19. \u0026quot;The DV\u0026nbsp;shelters\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;all full!\u0026quot;\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;common forum post\u0026nbsp;comment [24].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA female victim narrated that \u0026quot;The shelter will not take or release people during COVID\u0026quot;\u0026nbsp;(female victim, U.S.A.), and \u0026quot;Shelters are at capacity. Everything is in lockdown because of\u0026nbsp;COVID-19 [24].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.11 Women\u0026nbsp;wanted\u0026nbsp;restitution\u0026nbsp;rather\u0026nbsp;than\u0026nbsp;complaining\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome women only need restitution; they are not willing to register complaint against their\u0026nbsp;abusive partner.\u0026nbsp;They were looking for a mechanism that could help them remove the victimisation and allow them to live in the same house.\u0026nbsp;The women were more\u0026nbsp;concerned about their children; victim blaming attitude from society, isolation from friends\u0026nbsp;and family, embarrassment, and economic dependency are the main reasons for staying in abusive\u0026nbsp;relationships.\u0026nbsp;It was clear from the woman\u0026apos;s narrative, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eI need someone to talk to my\u0026nbsp;husband\u0026nbsp;because\u0026nbsp;he\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;always\u0026nbsp;scolding\u0026nbsp;me\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;my\u0026nbsp;children\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;demanding\u0026nbsp;money\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;me.\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;want to live\u0026nbsp;here,\u0026nbsp;but I do not want this\u0026nbsp;victimisation.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.12 The Problems\u0026nbsp;due\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;lockdown\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;One thing that makes violence worse is the idea of social distancing. It makes people believe\u0026nbsp;they cannot interfere in other people\u0026apos;s affairs. You have to stay away from people, and there is no way to approach this isolation, which has made\u0026nbsp;things\u0026nbsp;even\u0026nbsp;worse.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;[21]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe term \u0026quot;social distancing,\u0026quot; which the World Health Organization later suggested being\u0026nbsp;replaced\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;\u0026quot;physical\u0026nbsp;distancing,\u0026quot;\u0026nbsp;has\u0026nbsp;become\u0026nbsp;extremely popular\u0026nbsp;since\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;release\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;COVID-19. Being isolated from others can negatively affect one\u0026apos;s emotional\u0026nbsp;and physical health because humans are social animals. However, due to the lack of treatment\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;high\u0026nbsp;number\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;COVID-19\u0026nbsp;patients\u0026nbsp;who\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;asymptomatic,\u0026nbsp;rigorous\u0026nbsp;recommendations for and enforcement of quarantine (for exposed and healthy persons) and\u0026nbsp;isolation (for sick individuals) were made, comparable to the SARS viral outbreak [24].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fear of catching the coronavirus and uncertainty about the future has caused stress and\u0026nbsp;anxiety in most people.\u0026nbsp;This anxiety is sometimes displaced and directed towards the spouse,\u0026nbsp;which worsens the marital relationship.\u0026nbsp;A woman reported,\u0026nbsp;\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;My husband is afraid of\u0026nbsp;catching the coronavirus.\u0026nbsp;He is always staying at home, not giving any individual space for me,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;always\u0026nbsp;interfering\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;my\u0026nbsp;work.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;Another\u0026nbsp;woman\u0026nbsp;narrated,\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;As\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;woman,\u0026nbsp;I do not\u0026nbsp;know\u0026nbsp;how\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;make\u0026nbsp;space\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;time\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;myself.\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;am\u0026nbsp;feeling\u0026nbsp;completely\u0026nbsp;trapped\u0026nbsp;at \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; home\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe female victim of the United States stated, \u0026ldquo;I was hoping to leave before the pandemic hit,\u0026nbsp;but now I am stuck here.\u0026quot; Other people were getting ready to leave as the area was under\u0026nbsp;lockdown. Another woman stated, \u0026ldquo;I have been contacting houses to move into\u0026quot; and \u0026quot;I am\u0026nbsp;thinking\u0026nbsp;time to make\u0026nbsp;an\u0026nbsp;escape\u0026nbsp;plan,\u0026nbsp;I am trying\u0026nbsp;to find a\u0026nbsp;way\u0026nbsp;out\u0026quot;[23].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMen do not\u0026nbsp;go to work or lose their jobs during this period, leading to poverty,\u0026nbsp;frustration\u0026nbsp;and violence. Not only men but women also lose their jobs during this time, which further\u0026nbsp;increases\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;possibility\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;abuse\u0026nbsp;[17].\u0026nbsp;Disruption\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;livelihoods\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;earning capacity reduces access to basic needs and services,\u0026nbsp;leading to additional stress\u0026nbsp;[7].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFear of losing a job or a salary reduction has induced anxiety in many people.\u0026nbsp;One woman\u0026nbsp;reported,\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eI\u0026nbsp;resigned\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;my\u0026nbsp;job\u0026nbsp;because\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;my\u0026nbsp;husband.\u0026nbsp;He\u0026nbsp;monitors me continuously and shows suspicious behavior towards me while I work\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;home.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNevertheless, another woman reported, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband lost his Gulf job, and he is trying hard to get a new\u0026nbsp;job in our native place. However, he is losing opportunities due to lockdown and remains angry\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;scolding me\u0026nbsp;and children.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.13 Physical\u0026nbsp;Abuse\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhysical abuse is one of the main forms of domestic violence.\u0026nbsp;In India, physical abuse after\u0026nbsp;marriage,\u0026nbsp;such\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;choking,\u0026nbsp;slapping,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;pulling\u0026nbsp;hair,\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;considered\u0026nbsp;normal.\u0026nbsp;Lockdown\u0026nbsp;restrictions, difficulty in accessing essential services and stress due to marital disharmony, job\u0026nbsp;insecurity, financial problems, male control and aggressive behavior pave the way to\u0026nbsp;increased physical abuse towards women.\u0026nbsp;A woman reported, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband drinks daily and\u0026nbsp;beats\u0026nbsp;me\u0026nbsp;up and pulls my\u0026nbsp;hair in front of my\u0026nbsp;children.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA woman reported that during the lockdown, the intensity and frequency of physical abuse\u0026nbsp;increased.\u0026nbsp;She narrated, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband\u0026rsquo;s behavior has become worse now. He lost his job\u0026nbsp;and demanded dowry from my parents, and when I denied him, he used to hurt me\u0026nbsp;physically.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet another woman reported, \u0026ldquo;While working from home, my husband would get drinks and, in a state of intoxication,\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;lose\u0026nbsp;his\u0026nbsp;control and throw\u0026nbsp;things in anger.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlcohol as a mood enhancer is directly correlated with feelings of anger, frustration, and\u0026nbsp;irritation.\u0026nbsp;Some\u0026nbsp;alcoholic\u0026nbsp;husbands\u0026nbsp;do\u0026nbsp;not\u0026nbsp;drink\u0026nbsp;during\u0026nbsp;this\u0026nbsp;time\u0026nbsp;and,\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;frustration,\u0026nbsp;abuse women in intimate relationships [17].\u0026nbsp;A man\u0026apos;s sense of the need to\u0026nbsp;agree to gender norms can be exacerbated by substance abuse, thus shifting the focus to\u0026nbsp;women. This then turned to violence.\u0026nbsp;Due to women\u0026apos;s vulnerability, the endless loop can\u0026nbsp;continue from woman to progeny, additional strength from the family of origin, the expected\u0026nbsp;normality of the procreation family, and the difficulty of accessing and providing legal aid\u0026nbsp;services\u0026nbsp;add to the\u0026nbsp;problems\u0026nbsp;[25].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.14 The Controlling\u0026nbsp;Behavior,\u0026nbsp;Denying\u0026nbsp;Freedom\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;Movement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe government has imposed quarantines and other travel restrictions, including widespread\u0026nbsp;lockdowns, closures of shops, public spaces and facilities, orders to isolate infected people,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;enforced voluntary\u0026nbsp;social distancing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMen used to control women behind closed doors because of their suspicious thoughts due to stress\u0026nbsp;and anxiety.\u0026nbsp;The Women were forced to separate from\u0026nbsp;loved ones and various resources; it\u0026nbsp;became evident from one woman\u0026rsquo;s narrative, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband never allows me to go outside of\u0026nbsp;the home during the lockdown. My parental home is in Next Street only.\u0026nbsp;But my husband says, if\u0026nbsp;you\u0026nbsp;love\u0026nbsp;me,\u0026nbsp;stay\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;me\u0026nbsp;always.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eAnother evident aspect\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;controlling behavior of the husbands extended to control even the social life of the women,\u0026nbsp;which became evident with the narrative of an educated lady,\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eMy husband always has\u0026nbsp;doubt about me and checks all my\u0026nbsp;social media\u0026nbsp;accounts. I am losing my privacy and social\u0026nbsp;life also.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.15 The Frustration due to joblessness\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the spread of the coronavirus\u0026nbsp;would put more than 25 million jobs at risk worldwide. In the 3.3 billion-strong global labor\u0026nbsp;force, it is estimated that complete or partial workplace closures currently impact 81% of\u0026nbsp;workers [26].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;report\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;Centre\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;Monitoring\u0026nbsp;Indian\u0026nbsp;Economy\u0026nbsp;(CMIE).\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;corresponding last figure before the lockdown was 404 million. This demonstrates that 119\u0026nbsp;million workers have lost their jobs during the two-week shutdown period. Approximately\u0026nbsp;one-third\u0026nbsp;(60\u0026nbsp;million\u0026nbsp;households\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;300\u0026nbsp;million\u0026nbsp;people)\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;India\u0026apos;s\u0026nbsp;population\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;households could face a severe livelihood crisis. Approximately 227 million households are in despair if\u0026nbsp;we assume that half of those who have lost their jobs are the main or sole earning family\u0026nbsp;members of an average of 5-member family size (as per census 2011) households[26].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eSome days, I stand for hours, but nobody comes to hire, and I return home where my\u0026nbsp;transportation money gets wasted. But I do not have the option to sit at home or hope for a\u0026nbsp;salaried job like earlier. I have to feed my parents, wife, and two kids, pay rent and keep them\u0026nbsp;happy\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;whatever\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;can earn.\u003c/em\u003e\u0026rdquo;(25\u0026nbsp;years old\u0026nbsp;man)\u0026nbsp;[27]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWomen who cannot work in this crisis must balance \u0026ldquo;work from home\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;work for home\u0026rdquo;. Family perceptions can influence their\u0026nbsp;work habits; additional family responsibilities and conflict can lead to discord. Many people\u0026nbsp;may face a financial crisis, reducing their autonomy within their respective families [6]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany men and women lost their jobs or reduced salaries during the COVID pandemic, leading to\u0026nbsp;an\u0026nbsp;economic crisis in families.\u0026nbsp;This led to an increase in stress and induced violence against\u0026nbsp;women.\u0026nbsp;A narrative woman explains these phenomena: \u0026ldquo;My husband lost his job, and we have a financial crisis now. All his stress is due to the income loss he is \u003cem\u003eshowing\u0026nbsp;towards me.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLow livelihood opportunities and reduced access to basic needs and services lead to additional pressure to run the family. Jobless increased availability of spare time, and inability to constructively use time led to anxiety and frustration.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eDue to the complexity of the pandemic crisis and the overwhelming demand on legal, police,\u0026nbsp;and health services to handle and respond to the pandemic, it has been challenging for women\u0026nbsp;to get aid. The women were forced to remain incarcerated with their rapists. The Alarming\u0026nbsp;statistics from the United Nations Development Program show that 243 million women and\u0026nbsp;girls would have experienced physical or sexual violence in the world in 2020[28]\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u0026nbsp;current\u0026nbsp;study made\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;clear\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;gender\u0026nbsp;inequities,\u0026nbsp;which\u0026nbsp;were made\u0026nbsp;worse\u0026nbsp;by the\u0026nbsp;pandemic, existed in areas including marital rape, domestic abuse, and the possibility of\u0026nbsp;forced\u0026nbsp;marriage,\u0026nbsp;disproportionately\u0026nbsp;harming\u0026nbsp;girls\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;young\u0026nbsp;women [27].\u0026nbsp;Nearly\u0026nbsp;2.5\u0026nbsp;times\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;often\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;men,\u0026nbsp;women\u0026nbsp;conduct\u0026nbsp;unpaid\u0026nbsp;care\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;family work globally, and they are more likely to have additional caregiving responsibilities when\u0026nbsp;schools\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;out, making\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;harder for them to\u0026nbsp;keep\u0026nbsp;paying\u0026nbsp;employment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRestrictions on people\u0026apos;s freedom of movement and other policies that encourage staying at\u0026nbsp;home\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;factor\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;rise\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;gender-based\u0026nbsp;violence.\u0026nbsp;Women\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;girls\u0026nbsp;who\u0026nbsp;have\u0026nbsp;experienced violence were more likely to be subjected to abuser control and restrictions, with\u0026nbsp;little or no access to support.\u0026nbsp;The hotline receives complaints of women who are in danger of\u0026nbsp;losing their houses, getting sick, or having access to their financial resources and medical\u0026nbsp;assistance withdrawn. Being in prison with an abuser can make it more challenging to get\u0026nbsp;help. Due to the difficulty in placing private calls, several hotlines are reporting a decline in\u0026nbsp;contact numbers; however, texting and email usage are reportedly on the rise. Services for\u0026nbsp;victims, including as housing, medical care, police protection, and legal assistance, may be\u0026nbsp;withheld.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are several reports of emergency helplines functioning with decreased service, as well\u0026nbsp;as reports of shelters for victims of gender-based violence being shuttered or converted into\u0026nbsp;homeless shelters. Fear of the infection spreading is another obstacle to receiving services. In\u0026nbsp;order to be admitted, some shelters reportedly required women to submit a negative COVID-19\u0026nbsp;test, but the test is\u0026nbsp;not\u0026nbsp;commonly\u0026nbsp;accessible [20].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rights to life, to be free from torture and cruel treatment, to live in a secure environment,\u0026nbsp;and to personal freedom lessened during COVID-19. Social media monitoring by the husband\u0026nbsp;used to violate the wife\u0026apos;s right to privacy. The right to freedom of movement was also limited\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;law.\u0026nbsp;Women\u0026apos;s\u0026nbsp;access\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;tertiary\u0026nbsp;mechanisms\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;restricted\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;travel\u0026nbsp;bans\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;lockdown measures, which opened the door to torture and silent suffering at the hands of\u0026nbsp;husbands and in-laws. Domestic violence is also a kind of gender discrimination because it\u0026nbsp;targets women differently than males and is based on patriarchal ideas and preconceptions\u0026nbsp;about\u0026nbsp;women\u0026apos;s duties in the\u0026nbsp;home.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u0026nbsp;lockdown\u0026nbsp;measures\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;applied\u0026nbsp;hastily\u0026nbsp;without\u0026nbsp;considering\u0026nbsp;many\u0026nbsp;social\u0026nbsp;issues.\u0026nbsp;Governments\u0026nbsp;should\u0026nbsp;have\u0026nbsp;considered\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;structural\u0026nbsp;risk\u0026nbsp;emerging\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;women\u0026rsquo;s\u0026nbsp;compelled confinement at houses and followed measures geared toward stopping such danger\u0026nbsp;from concretizing and mitigating any of its unfavorable consequences, each usually and in\u0026nbsp;handling\u0026nbsp;unique\u0026nbsp;cases.\u0026nbsp;At\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;overall\u0026nbsp;level,\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;particular,\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;public\u0026nbsp;government\u0026nbsp;has to look into the local government machinery framework already in the region to counter home violence\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;additionally apply extra measures tailor-made to the unique desires springing up within side\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;context of the\u0026nbsp;pandemic.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mechanism was required to consider the potential of shelters and protocols for the care of girls to cover the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing the supply of reporting offerings and developing secured spaces, e.g. pharmacies or supermarkets, in which girls may want to file abuses without alerting perpetrators, enhancing the potential of enforcement and judicial bodies to reply to mentioned violence and elevating their focus on the expanded danger of home abuse. In handling unique cases, the public, as well as the government, should have reinforced safety measures for vulnerable girls and women. For example, through tracking home gadgets with histories of violence, and have to act with promptness with inside the research of mentioned abuses, the prosecution of perpetrators and the availability of vital care to the victims [20]\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe coronavirus spread was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.\u0026nbsp;The pandemic led to a\u0026nbsp;situation of lockdown and many restrictions; it had resulted in a shadow pandemic in many\u0026nbsp;women\u0026rsquo;s lives.\u0026nbsp;The result of the present study showed that women\u0026nbsp;were subjected to\u0026nbsp;conflict, which leads to marital disharmony.\u0026nbsp;Another aspect of the pandemic was that many men\u0026nbsp;and women lost their jobs and had to manage with reduced income.\u0026nbsp;This situation led to\u0026nbsp;economic crisis in families, stress, and anxiety and induced violence against women.\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;result of unplanned restrictions was that women suffered silent domestic violence and an inability to\u0026nbsp;access primary, secondary and tertiary sources of support and network.\u0026nbsp;A more comprehensive approach\u0026nbsp;with relevant policies was required to prevent domestic violence during the time of\u0026nbsp;lockdown\u0026nbsp;and pandemic.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eThe authors acknowledge the participants and Women Protection Officers and counsellors of different districts for sharing their experiences\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e The conceptualisation, data collection and analysis, article writing, and content editing are done by both the first and second authors.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eDue to its sensitivity, the data used for the current study is unavailable in any repositories. It is kept confidential with the researchers and cannot be shared based on the participants\u0026rsquo; and the counsellors\u0026rsquo; requests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e: The authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eViolence against women [Internet]. World Health Organization; 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 23]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeth, P. Decoding the Extent to Which Domestic Violence Is Under-Reported in India. [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 May 25]. Available from: https://thewire.in/women/domestic-violence-india-underreported\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKrishnakumar A, Verma S. Understanding domestic violence in India during covid-19: A routine activity approach. Asian Journal of Criminology. 2021 Mar;16(1):19\u0026ndash;35. doi:10.1007/s11417-020-09340-1\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaji S, Bansod S, Singh T. Domestic violence during covid‐19 pandemic: The case for Indian women. Journal of Community \u0026amp;amp; Applied Social Psychology. 2021 Jan 11;32(3):374\u0026ndash;81. doi:10.1002/casp.2501\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMlambo-Ngcuka P. Violence against women and girls: the shadow pandemic [Internet]. UN Women. 2020. Available from: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/4/statement-ed-phumzile-violence-against-women-during-pandemic\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNair VS, Banerjee D. \u0026ldquo;Crisis within the walls\u0026rdquo;: rise of intimate partner violence during the pandemic, Indian perspectives. Frontiers in global women\u0026apos;s health. 2021;2. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2021.614310\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoesch E, Amin A, Gupta J, Garc\u0026iacute;a-Moreno C. Violence against women during covid-19 pandemic restrictions. BMJ [Internet]. 2020 May 7;369:m1712. Available from: https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1712.full\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUN Women. Measuring the shadow pandemic: Violence against women during COVID-19 [Internet]. UN Women Data Hub. 2021. Available from: https://data.unwomen.org/publications/vaw-rga\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFord, L. \u0026ldquo;calamitous\u0026rdquo;: Domestic violence set to soar by 20% during global lockdown [Internet]. Guardian News and Media; 2020 [cited 2020 May 17]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/apr/28/calamitous-domestic-violence-set-to-soar-by-20-during-global-lockdown-coronavirus\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWenham C, Smith J, Morgan R. Covid-19: The gendered impacts of the outbreak. The Lancet. 2020 Mar;395(10227):846\u0026ndash;8. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30526-2\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSri AS, Das P, Gnanapragasam S, Persaud A. COVID-19 and the violence against women and girls:\u0026lsquo;The shadow pandemic\u0026rsquo;. International journal of social psychiatry. 2021 Dec;67(8):971-3. doi:10.1177/0020764021995556\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUN Women. Press release: UN Women raises awareness of the shadow pandemic of violence against women during COVID-19 [Internet]. UN Women. 2020. Available from: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/5/press-release-the-shadow-pandemic-of-violence-against-women-during-covid-19\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaiti DT, Singh DS, Innamuri DR, Hasija MAD. Marital distress during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: a brief narrative. International Journal of Indian Psychology [Internet]. 2020 May 25;Cognitive Study. Available from: https://ijip.in/articles/marital-distress-during-covid-19-pandemic-and-lockdown-a-brief-narrative/\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbhayan. Types of marital rape [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2020 Jul 19]. Available from: https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-5571-types-of-marital-rape.html\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSitumorang JR, Susanti V. The role of victim\u0026rsquo;s assistant to prevent secondary victimization : Case women victim of marital rape. HUMANISMA : Journal of Gender Studies. 2021 Dec 31;5(2):106\u0026ndash;18. doi:10.30983/humanisme.v5i2.4709\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasu S. A parallel pandemic as domestic abuse victims trapped with their abusers. The Hindu [Internet]. 2020 Apr 20; Available from: https://www.thehindu.com/society/covid-19-lockdown-domestic-abuse-victims-trapped-with-abusers/article31388228.ece\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRavichandran P, Shah AK, Ravichandran P. Shadow pandemic: Domestic violence and child abuse during the COVID-19 lockdown in India. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. 2020 Jul 24;8(8):3118\u0026ndash;21. doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20203477\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRathore M. India: Covid-19 lockdown activities 2020 [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 29]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1111152/india-coronavirus-lockdown-activities/\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGiurge LM, Whillans AV, Yemiscigil A. A multicountry perspective on gender differences in time use during COVID-19. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021 Mar 8;118(12). doi:10.1073/pnas.2018494118\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUN Women. COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls [Internet]. 2020. Available from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/Library/Publications/2020/Issue-brief-COVID-19-and-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-en.pdf\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBavadam L. Domestic violence during COVID lockdown [Internet]. Frontline. Available from: https://frontline.thehindu.com/social-issues/gender/domestic-violence-during-covid-lockdown/article38034608.ece\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGraham-Harrison E, Athens AGHS in, Ford L. Lockdowns around the world bring rise in domestic violence. The Guardian [Internet]. 2020 Mar 28; Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/28/lockdowns-world-rise-domestic-violence\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLyons M, Brewer G. Experiences of intimate partner violence during lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family Violence. 2021 Feb 26;37(6):969\u0026ndash;77. doi:10.1007/s10896-021-00260-x\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedicine I of, Health B on G, Threats F on M. Learning from SARS: Preparing for the Next Disease Outbreak: Workshop Summary [Internet]. Google Books. National Academies Press; 2004 [cited 2024 May 19]. Available from: https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en\u0026amp;lr=\u0026amp;id=eBidAgAAQBAJ\u0026amp;oi=fnd\u0026amp;pg=PR1\u0026amp;dq=(Knobler\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBerg MJ, Kremelberg D, Dwivedi P, Verma S, Schensul JJ, Gupta K, et al. The effects of husband\u0026rsquo;s alcohol consumption on married women in three low-income areas of Greater Mumbai. AIDS and Behavior. 2010 Jun 11;14(S1):126\u0026ndash;35. doi:10.1007/s10461-010-9735-7\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMehta P, Garg N, Gharib M, Mehak, Pimpunchat B. Social support during COVID-19: Exploring the psychometric properties of the PSS-JSAS and its relationship with Job Search Activities. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences. 2023 Feb;85:1\u0026ndash;7. doi:10.1016/j.seps.2022.101349\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTorgalkar V. Long after Lockdowns, India\u0026rsquo;s youth still struggle to find work [Internet]. Al Jazeera; 2022 [cited 2022 Jul 1]. Available from: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/2/3/after-lockdowns-indias-youth-still-struggling-to-find-work\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGender-based violence and COVID-19 | United Nations Development Programme [Internet]. www.undp.org. Available from: https://www.undp.org/publications/gender-based-violence-and-covid-19\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorld Economic Forum. Global Gender Gap Report 2021 [Internet]. World Economic Forum. 2021. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2021/\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Domestic violence, women victims, shadow pandemic, COVID- Lockdown","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972617/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972617/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePurpose:\u003c/strong\u003e Existing literature suggests that the COVID-19 restrictions led to a shadow pandemic wherein women’s lives were disproportionately affected. This study sheds light on the mechanisms through which COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have furthered violence against women, uncovering a distressing interplay of factors that exacerbate this \"Shadow Pandemic. The goal is to provide insights for shaping effective intervention and support strategies, especially in the context of public health crises.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods:\u003c/strong\u003e The research focused on exploring the phenomenological interpretive experiences of domestic violence among married women in Kerala during the COVID-19 lockdown. Narratives of thirty-five women victims of domestic violence were analysed and subjected to thematic analysis, yielding diverse emergent themes discussed under distinct headings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e The findings revealed a spectrum of abuse including physical violence, psychological trauma, economic exploitation, and intimate partner violence. The study outlines key themes that have emerged. Marital Disharmony, Pseudo-Long Distance Relationships, Marital Rape, Domestic Labor, Compelled Coexistence, Vulnerability Exacerbation, Socio-Economic Disparities, Pandemic-Induced Isolation, Economic Fallout, Physical Abuse, and Joblessness are the major themes examined.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusions:\u003c/strong\u003e The lockdown-induced shadow pandemic has cast a distressing influence on women's lives. The intersection of a global health crisis and a surge in gender-based violence underscores the urgent need for comprehensive societal responses. As we navigate the aftermath of lockdowns, this study calls for the prioritisation of the well-being and empowerment of women, ensuring that they are not left behind in the recovery process.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Lockdown-induced Shadow Pandemic: A Phenomenological Interpretation of Domestic Violence in Kerala","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-06-13 06:18:23","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3972617/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"2dea35c2-97e3-4688-9d8c-9a9a67734438","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 13th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-12-18T07:39:22+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-06-13 06:18:23","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3972617","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3972617","identity":"rs-3972617","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}