Impact of COVID-19 on Family Violence Among Marginalized Communities in the United States

Family violence is a significant global public health problem and disproportionately affects marginalized women. The COVID-19 pandemic increased incidents and severity of family violence. This chapter focuses on the syndemic of COVID-19 and family violence, particularly intimate partner violence, among marginalized women because of its significant negative impact on women from marginalized groups. Using a social determinants framework, the chapter highlights contributors of syndemic disparities among marginalized communities during the pandemic. These included inequities related to social determinants of health that were magnified among marginalized populations during the outbreak of the pandemic. Factors such as loss of jobs, unsafe living environments, and economic dependence led to worsened conditions, particularly for marginalized women in abusive relationships. Therefore, stronger efforts were needed to address not only inequities in social determinants of health but also family violence as a social determinant of health for marginalized women during the outbreak of the pandemic. Using the existing literature, we outlined steps that could be taken to address the family violence and COVID-19 syndemic in marginalized communities and ensure marginalized women’s health and safety during the pandemic. This work informs national as well as international audiences as to how marginalized communities are often among those most adversely affected in pandemic situations. It also highlights the need to have adequate measures in place to provide effective support to marginalized communities, particularly women in abusive relationships, in crisis situations such as the pandemic.