Domestic Violence against Women during COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal

Abstract

Domestic violence perpetrated is a public health problem commonly for women in developing nation like Nepal.Major causes of domestic violence are unemployment, alcohol drink, lack of education, loneliness, crowded livingspaces, lack of privacy. These factors may be aggravated by pandemic such as COVID-19. Women experiencefrom domestic violence due to dominant patriarchal culture combined with a lack of self-awareness and educationamongst adult males. Domestic violence is mostly instigated by intimate partners and maybe intensified due to theunusual stress of pandemic stress and spending increased time with wives and families. Domestic violence usuallymanifested in the form of adverse physical, mental and social health. The COVID-19 pandemic may have increasedthat adverse health of women in Nepal. Preventive strategies of domestic violence could be self-awareness,counselling, create a job, stop living alone at home, sharing with all family members and strong governmentalrules. This paper argues the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence and possible preventive strategiesof domestic violence.