Violence patterns during the Covid-19 pandemic An Egyptian sample

Abstract

Blunt. Violence is a worldwide phenomenon resulting in 1.6 million deaths per year, making it one of the top causes of mortality worldwide. Physical, sexual, psychological, and negligence are the most common forms of violence. The newly identified coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is a new pandemic global health crisis caused by a newly identified coronavirus (WHO) which began in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 led to enormous and devastating changes in the daily lives of millions around the world. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the violence pattern among people in the Menoufia governorate, Egypt. The number of patients that arrived at the forensic medicine department during the pre-COVID-19 study period was 275; the male gender represented 60.7% of them. During the COVID pandemic, 304 individuals visited the forensic medicine department for the primary medico-legal reports, with 74.3 percent being males. Most of the patients in both groups (pre-COVID and COVID), came from rural areas. Blunt instruments were the most frequently used instruments in violence in both pre and post-COVID groups (86.5% and 85.9%, respectively). Quarrels were the most common cause of violence. Simple wounds were the most common. The overall incidence of violence has increased during COVID-19. The majority of patients were male, middle-aged, and young adults who lived in rural areas. Quarrels were the most common violent etiology during COVID-19; blunt instruments were the most commonly used instruments.