Analysis of Partner Physical Violence in Peru: A Temporal Analysis Before and After the COVID-19 Quarantine

Introduction Intimate partner violence is a frequent problem worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic and confinement put both aggressors and victims in the same environment, which may have increased this problem. The aim of this study is to visualize the physical violence situation in couples from 2017 to 2022 in Peru. Materials and methods Using information provided by the Center for Women's Emergency, a descriptive analysis of temporal trends from January 2017 to December 2022 was carried out. To evaluate the relationship with the number of cases, a regression analysis was performed, and determination coefficients were reported before and after COVID-19 confinement. Results A total of 179,737 cases of physical violence in couples were obtained during the study period. A tendency towards a decrease was observed in the months following COVID-19 confinement in all categories. The rural area maintained a persistence in the number of cases before and after the pandemic. Significant differences were also found in couples or ex-couples who live together or apart, with those who do not live together having a greater decrease by the end of 2022. Conclusion The trends in the number of cases showed differences before and after the COVID-19 lockdown, according to the studied variables. Certain factors, such as post-pandemic family situations or the surveillance status in cases of violence, could impact the presented outcomes and necessitate a more rigorous analysis.