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Publication: Investigating the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on interpersonal violence in South Africa
Prinsloo, M Abrahams, N Mhlongo, S Dekel, B Ketelo, A Jabar, A Jewkes, R Parry, C Matzopoulos, R
Prinsloo, M
Abrahams, N
Mhlongo, S
Dekel, B
Ketelo, A
Jabar, A
Jewkes, R
Parry, C
Matzopoulos, R
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Abstract
Background
South Africa’s (SA’s) response to the Covid-19 pandemic included rapid testing, social distancing, quarantining and a stringent
five-phased lockdown approach. The necessitated countrywide lockdown restricted movement to the purchase of essential
items, and alcohol and tobacco sales bans. This overlapped with a substantial decrease in injury mortality and hospital
trauma cases. It is unclear whether lockdown restrictions decreased overall exposure to violence in public spaces or whether
it increased in the domestic setting, where women and children were possibly more vulnerable to some adult males as the
main perpetrators of violence.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective review of post-mortem reports using a multistage random sample, stratified by province and
mortuary size. The study period from April 2020 to March 2021 spans lockdown levels and alcohol bans. The sample
comprises approximately 30,000 records from 81 mortuaries, which will be weighted to a national estimate. Age-specific and
age-standardized mortality rates will be calculated for cause of death by sex for the study period and for combinations of
lockdown-related restrictions and alcohol sales bans. Comparative rates for corresponding periods in 2009 and 2017 will be
calculated.
Results
The injury mortality profile for SA and rates during the Covid-19 pandemic will be presented. This will identify any increase or
decrease in the causes of injury by sex during the national response to the pandemic, particularly for interpersonal violence.
Conclusion
As the third nationally representative sample of injury-related mortality, the findings will guide future emergency crisis
response in high injury settings such as SA.
Description
The 14th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion will be held from 27-30 November 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. Hosted by the Public Health Association of Australia and Co-Sponsored by the World Health Organization, and other key national and international organisations, Safety 2022 aims to bring together the global injury prevention community to continue the successful world conferences highlighting the important research, work and advocacy in injury prevention and safety promotion.
Date
2022-11-28
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Research Projects
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Keywords
South Africa,Mortality rates,Restrictions,Interpersonal violence