Intimate Partner Violence Consultations Rose During COVID-19 Pandemic: Study

Intimate partner violence consultations increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic at a program embedded within a Boston children’s hospital, according to a Pediatrics study pre-published online Tuesday, March 22, 2022. More consultations were sought for emotional abuse, according to the study, “Intimate Partner Violence and the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The article, to be published in the June 2022 Pediatrics, analyzed the pattern of consultation requests at the Advocacy for Women and Kids in Emergencies (AWAKE) program at Boston Children’s Hospital. Led by social workers, the program provides educational training and support to health care providers to screen for intimate partner violence and offers direct, confidential support to survivors. In the 11 months leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic (April 1, 2019- February 29, 2020), the AWAKE team received 240 consultation requests, 197 of which were new. Consultation volume increased to 295 during the matched 11-month period after the emergence of COVID-19 (April 1, 2020-February 28, 2021). The researchers observed that the consultation increase occurred during a time when providers shifted away from face-to-face care after the start of the pandemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics has identified intimate partner violence as a pediatrics issue, as identification may be one of the most effective ways to prevent child maltreatment. They suggest the importance of pediatric primary care as a location for survivors to access support and note that consultations can be successfully provided when offered remotely.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.