Staff perspectives on the impact of COVID 19 on the delivery of specialist domestic abuse services in the UK: A qualitative study.

ABSTRACT: Domestic abuse is a significant public health issue effecting 2.4 million adults in England and Wales each year. In March 2020 the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic following the outbreak of COVID-19. As a result, the UK moved to a period of lockdown. There is growing evidence that highlights the unintended negative consequences of lockdown, particularly in households where abuse is present. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of frontline specialist domestic abuse staff who continued to support victims during the period of lockdown to understand the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery. Ten, one to one, semi structured qualitative interviews were carried out with staff from a specialist domestic abuse service that operates in regions across the north-

SUBMITTER: Riddell H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10021249 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature