Sexual violence against women is a global health issue prevalent in both developed and developing regions of the world, but varies in levels, types, reporting, and interventions put in place to tackle it.
While rape, defilements, homicides, physical injuries, and emotional violence are common across all populations, some regions are highly affected by harmful cultural practices of child marriage and female genital mutilation. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates from 2017 indicate that globally, one-third of all women have experienced either physical or sexual violence.
The preponderance of violence against displaced women, and women and girls in humanitarian crises is well established, and the Covid-19 pandemic movement restrictions have, in fact, worsened the crisis. The pandemic has proved beyond doubt that women’s and girls’ vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse knows no boundaries and that it may be worse for women within the confines of their own homes.
Vulnerability to sexual abuse worsens during periods of disasters and pandemics, and it is evident that social, economic, and political structures determine how vulnerabilities are distributed.
It is, therefore, no surprise that reports in Kenya, India, and Malawi revealed increased levels of sexual abuse, child labour, teenage pregnancies, and child marriages, especially amongst children in adversity during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Research background
The fact that women are less safe in their own homes has been recognised already by the WHO and further support for this assertion is provided by statistics in Malawi, showing increased levels of teenage pregnancies during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic (March to July), compared to the same period in 2019.
However, the extent of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sexual and reproductive health of women in Malawi can best be established by analysing the number of abortions, rape, and defilements before and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from looking at the general trend, the study will also explore if there exist any geographical variations in the number of rapes, defilements, and abortions during the Covid-19 pandemic in Malawi to help understand what different population groups across varying cultures and socio-economic backgrounds can learn from each other.
Objective
To assess the prevalence of sexual violence and unwanted pregnancies in Malawi during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Specific Objectives
- To assess if there has been an increase in the cases of rape, defilements, and abortions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- To explore if there were significant differences in the cases of rape, defilements, and abortions during the Covid-19 pandemic across population groups in Malawi, and what may explain any identified significant differences.
Study methods
The study uses an explanatory mixed methods design in that it starts with quantitative research that establishes the patterns and trends of cases of rape and defilement, and admissions for post-abortion care for women and girls across districts in Malawi between 2018 and 2021 in stage 1.
In stage 2, the study undertakes key informant interviews with Directors of Health and Social Services, and Regional Child Protection Officers to establish explanations of the quantitative findings.
Stage 2 will use a qualitative phenomenological approach to understand how the cases of rape and defilement, and the number of women attending post abortion have changed between 2018 and 2021, from the point of view of the Regional Child Protection Officers, and Directors of Health and Social Services who are well versed with the study context.
This study approach has been used in a recent study conducted in South Africa on Key Informant perspectives about the sexual victimisation of learners with intellectual disabilities in South Africa.
Impact
It is expected that the study findings will provide evidence of the increased vulnerability of women and girls to sexual abuse/violence as a result of poor socio-economic conditions at all times, especially during pandemics, and will highlight the importance of instituting measures to ensure the safety of women and girls.
By analysing the trends of reported cases of rape and defilements, and the number of unwanted pregnancies (abortions) over a four-year period, any significant increases occurring during the Covid-19 pandemic period will be attributed to factors associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Research Lead:
Dr Lana Clara Chikhungu, Senior Lecturer in International Development Studies; Course Leader, MSc International Development Studies DL, School of Area Studies, History, Politics and Literature, University of Portsmouth