Background There is little information on care-seeking patterns for sexual assault and domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in emergency department (ED) admissions for sexual assault and domestic violence since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Methods Observational ED admissions data from The Ottawa Hospital were analyzed from March 4 to May 5 (62 days) in 2020 (COVID-19 period) and compared to the same period in 2018 (pre-COVID-19). Total and mean weekly admissions were calculated for all-cause ED admissions and for sexual and domestic violence cases. A Poisson regression (without offset term) was used to calculate the weekly case count ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CI) between the two time periods. Case characteristics were compared using chi-square tests, and percent differences were calculated. Results Compared to pre-COVID-19, total ED admissions dropped by 1111.22 cases per week (32.9% reduction), and the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Program cases dropped 4.66 cases per week. The weekly case count ratio for sexual assault cases was 0.47 (95% CI 0.79–0.27), equivalent of 53.49% reduction in cases, and 0.52 (95% CI 0.93–0.29), equivalent to a 48.45% reduction in physical assault cases. The characteristics of presenting cases were similar by age (median 25 years), sex (88.57% female), assault type (57.14% sexual assault, 48.57% physical assault), and location (31.43% patient’s home, 40.00% assailant’s home). There was a significant increase in psychological abuse (11.69% vs 28.57%) and assaults occurring outdoors (5.19% vs 22.86%). Conclusion This study found a decrease in ED admissions for sexual assault and domestic violence during COVID-19, despite societal conditions that elevate risk of violence. Trends in care-seeking and assault patterns will require ongoing monitoring to inform the provision of optimal support for individuals experiencing violence, particularly as countries begin to re-open or lock-down again. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-020-01897-z.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Intimate partner violence, Epidemiology, Violence, emergency department, gender-based violence, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, Sex, risk, Characteristics, female, Program, age, Psychological, assault, trend, information, Admission, chi-square tests, Support, reduction, supplementary material, 95% CI, 95% confidence interval, significant increase, individual, Poisson regression, patient’s home, sexual, country, physical, decrease, Result, analyzed, was used, median, calculated, condition, changes in, reduction in, presenting, Total, calculate, dropped, offset, reduction in cases, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19 pandemic, risk, survivor, rising,