Abstract
Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable members of society whose care and well-being should be prioritised in times of disasters, epidemics, and family conflicts such as domestic violence (DV). Additionally, any interventions suggested by scholars and implemented by social workers in issues such as pandemics and DV must always strive to obtain the views or participation of children and adolescents, as these are matters that affect their overall health and well-being. Foregrounding their voices is therefore crucial in developing responses and appropriate interventions for them. The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most devastating tragedies of our times that caused fear, panic, and death. In an attempt to curb it, restrictions such as lockdown, home confinement, social distancing, and school closures were implemented by the South African government. DV statistics and prevalence were reported as having intensified during this period. Children’s voices or narratives were missing on the effects of COVID-19, particularly on their DV exposure experiences, and this disparity motivated this study to be conducted.
This study investigated the experiences of 15 adolescents who were exposed to DV during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative research approach and elements of phenomenological research design were adopted for their ability to gather deep and detailed information from participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and thematic analysis was used as a method of data analysis. The findings are presented using various categories of themes and subthemes. The findings revealed that all the adolescent participants understood DV, and they were exposed to multiple types of DV, which, for the majority of them, occurred before COVID-19 started and worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study revealed that all the participants experienced DV as negative, traumatic, and disruptive. It also showed that during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were participants who were able to use healthy coping strategies, while others used unhealthy coping strategies in an attempt to deal with their DV exposures. The findings also revealed that some participants had access to responsive formal and informal support services, while others lacked support; therefore, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also provides recommendations on preventative measures to address DV during pandemics, social work practice and recommendations for future research.