Abdel-Fatah, Z., Shehata, S., Elsherbiny, N., Abu Bakr Elsaid, N. (2025). The Effect of Domestic Violence Against Women on Their Children's Discipline Methods During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study. Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 23(2), 9-23. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2025.358668.1211
Zeinab F. Abdel-Fatah; Shaimaa A. Shehata; Noura M. Elsherbiny; Noha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid. "The Effect of Domestic Violence Against Women on Their Children's Discipline Methods During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study". Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 23, 2, 2025, 9-23. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2025.358668.1211
Abdel-Fatah, Z., Shehata, S., Elsherbiny, N., Abu Bakr Elsaid, N. (2025). 'The Effect of Domestic Violence Against Women on Their Children's Discipline Methods During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study', Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 23(2), pp. 9-23. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2025.358668.1211
Abdel-Fatah, Z., Shehata, S., Elsherbiny, N., Abu Bakr Elsaid, N. The Effect of Domestic Violence Against Women on Their Children's Discipline Methods During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study. Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 2025; 23(2): 9-23. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2025.358668.1211
The Effect of Domestic Violence Against Women on Their Children's Discipline Methods During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study
1Department of Public Health Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
2Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
3Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the displacement of nearly half of the global student population from educational institutions and daycare facilities. This resulted in hindering access to education and increasing their exposure to domestic violence (DV) at home. Injuries incurred during this period frequently arose from parental corporal punishment, leading to both physical harm and psychosocial disorders among children. Mothers may incur legal responsibility and criminal charges, including assault, battery, or child abuse, if they cause harm to their child. This study aims to identify the patterns of child disciplining methods and their association with domestic violence against mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt. Participants and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted. The sample was collected using a multistage cluster sampling approach. The Egyptian demographic and health Arabic questionnaire was used. From May to June 2020, a Google form link was disseminated across all social media groups, including women in the targeted governorates, resulting in the collection of 318 samples. The research focused on women aged 20 to 49 residing in Egypt during the pandemic lockdown. Results: The results revealed that psychological discipline (86.2%) was the predominant form of violence utilized. A correlation exists between mothers who experienced domestic violence and the employment of violent disciplinary methods. Conclusion and recommendation: This study is the first in Egypt demonstrating a correlation between the COVID-19 epidemic, maternal violence, and child-discipline practices. During the pandemic, effective multi-level interventions are essential for protecting children against violence and its severe repercussions. Forensic and legal professionals are essential in reporting, examination, injury documentation, and offering child welfare services in cases of violent discipline.