Violência Doméstica no contexto da Pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The pandemic due to COVID-19 has led to speculation about the increase in the worldwide prevalence of domestic violence, partly due to the restrictions experienced, but also as a repercussion of its economic and social impact. The aim of this narrative review is to analyse the data regarding cases of domestic violence in Portugal in the year 2020, the first year of the pandemic, and to compare them with data reported in other countries. Methods: The analysis of data referring to cases of domestic violence in Portugal was based on annual reports compiled by the Portuguese Association for Victim Support, the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Directorate-General for Reinsertion and Prison Services. The literature review was performed according to the SANRA guidelines. Articles with data referring to the numbers of domestic violence reported in the year 2020 were reviewed, and their variation with previous years was compared to that of the Portuguese case. Results: The number of reports of domestic violence cases in Portugal decreased in 2020 compared to the previous year, with a slight increase in remote reporting methods. There was also an increase in the number of inmates convicted of the crime of domestic violence. Internationally, the trend observed was an increase in the number of cases of domestic violence. Conclusion: In Portugal, unlike most countries, there was a decrease in the number of reported cases of domestic violence, with underreporting being the main reason identified for this reduction.