Physical and Psychological Abuse among Women with Disabilities since COVID-19

During the period since coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) emerged, women with disabilities might be less likely to receive necessary services in the community because they have been interrupted due to the risk of spread of COVID-19 [1-3]. Some women with disabilities who need assistance or care from others may have been forced to spend more time with their caregivers, and the caregivers who have to take care of women with disabilities may be exhausted as their caregiving burdens have increased [2]. As COVID-19 has continued to affect the world for more than one year, caregiving burdens have accumulated; leading caregivers who feel overwhelmed and burnt out, and also to the possibility of physical and psychological abuse against women with disabilities [4]. Further, along with increased caregiving burdens, stresses from financial difficulties among caregivers might influence frequency of physical or psychological abuse. During the COVID-19 crisis, many people have experienced decreased income, unstable jobs, or unemployment [5]. Caregivers with women who have disabilities might face similar financial problems, which might negatively influence quality of caregiving and increase maltreatment [6].