Poster #13

Cultural Differences in Interpersonal Violence in South Asian Immigrant Communities During the Pandemic

By: Srija Seenivasan and Maheen Adamson

 
Cultural Differences in Interpersonal Violence in South Asian Immigrant Communities During the Pandemic
 
 

Abstract:

Data has shown that rates of interpersonal violence have drastically increased since the beginning of this unprecedented time of isolation at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, though under-reporting still remains a critical issue. Immigrants face different profiles of interpersonal violence due to legal fears and language barriers, but, in particular, South Asian immigrants’ powerfully patriarchal culture, along with caste and religion, create vulnerability to high rates of under-reporting. In this systematic scoping review, we aim to address the literature gaps in COVID-19’s impact on interpersonal violence of South Asian immigrants and make recommendations for researchers, policy stakeholders, and care providers.

Methods: Scopus and PubMed were electronically searched in December 2021 using the PRISMA Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR)-guide.

Results: After exclusions, a total of 827 articles resulted for topics of interpersonal violence and COVID-19; only 19 mentioned South Asians, and 3 mentioned South Asian immigrants in the U.S.

Conclusion: The findings show a need for inclusion of subcultures of Asia within research, and this review is hoped to update policymakers, providers, social workers with the lack of understanding and data around specific phenomena that South Asian immigrants face during these unprecedented times. Recommendations include setting research standards to include different subcultures of Asia, developing religious and cultural trainings for care coordination, and tailoring state legal policies to empower a self-reporter in undocumented cases.