A Pandemic within a Pandemic — Intimate Partner Violence during Covid-19

This perspective examines the surge in intimate partner violence (IPV) during the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbated by stay at home orders that trapped victims with abusers. Despite an expected increase in IPV, many domestic violence hotlines reported a drop in calls, signaling barriers to seeking help rather than a decline in violence. The article highlights how economic instability, reduced shelter capacity, school closures, and limited access to support systems disproportionately affected marginalized communities, particularly women of color. Challenges in reporting abuse such as inconsistent legal procedures and distrust of law enforcement were compounded by the shift to telemedicine, which made confidential disclosures difficult. The authors propose solutions, including equitable broadband access for telehealth, standardized IPV screening during virtual visits, and safety planning strategies for patients. They emphasize the role of clinicians in identifying IPV and connecting victims to resources, while advocating for policies that address social inequities to mitigate the long term impact of this "shadow pandemic."

This perspective examines the surge in intimate partner violence (IPV) during the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbated by stay at home orders that trapped victims with abusers. Despite an expected increase in IPV, many domestic violence hotlines reported a drop in calls, signaling barriers to seeking help rather than a decline in violence. The article highlights how economic instability, reduced shelter capacity, school closures, and limited access to support systems disproportionately affected marginalized communities, particularly women of color. Challenges in reporting abuse such as inconsistent legal procedures and distrust of law enforcement were compounded by the shift to telemedicine, which made confidential disclosures difficult. The authors propose solutions, including equitable broadband access for telehealth, standardized IPV screening during virtual visits, and safety planning strategies for patients. They emphasize the role of clinicians in identifying IPV and connecting victims to resources, while advocating for policies that address social inequities to mitigate the long term impact of this "shadow pandemic."