Undocumented monolingual Spanish speaking women are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 (Olivieri, 2009; Rodriguez-Diaz et al., 2020). In addition to the increased risk of COVID-19 infections and deaths, for many undocumented women, their homes are not a safe environment, and stay-at home orders may have resulted in increased incidents of domestic violence (Cone, 2020; Landis 2020). The purpose of this study is to explore the ways in which COVID-19 exacerbated domestic violence situations for undocumented women in Utah. This qualitative study assesses the interviews of 5-10 undocumented women living in Utah who have experienced domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interview questions will be formed through the framework of the Health Belief Model, utilizing the constructs perceived susceptibility and perceived severity (perceived threat), perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and cues to action. We hypothesize that individuals will report negative emotions, more perceived stress and vulnerability due to lowered social interaction opportunities. This study is important for understanding the perception of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic among undocumented women, their barriers to receiving aid, and experiences with domestic violence advocacy organizations. As researchers and public health advocates we hope to develop a conceptual care framework that can provide insight to the rest of the United States as to how to ensure that the rights and autonomy of women and girls who are undocumented are not further violated.

One in three women globally have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime (Devries et al., 2013). There is limited evidence to date that food insecurity is a risk for IPV (Hatcher & Mazars, 2021), but no quantitative evidence exists on the link between water insecurity and IPV. In the current study, we examine whether women and men in households facing water insecurity have a higher risk of experiencing IPV. We hypothesize that water insecurity could increase the risk of IPV through increased stress. This study uses one round of data from a cluster randomized controlled trial design (n=130 communities) conducted 2017-2021 in the Mbeya and Iringa regions of Tanzania. The sample comprises 977 male and female adolescents and youth aged 14 to 19 years at baseline (currently 18 to 23 years). We conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine the association between water insecurity (measured by the Household Water Insecurity Scale Experiences) and emotional, physical, and sexual violence experiences (measured by the Conflict Tactics Scale). We find that being water insecure significantly contributes to the risk of IPV. Results suggest that efforts to reduce IPV should focus on upstream determinants of IPV such as poverty and water insecurity.

The overall effect that we have found is the pathologization and criminalization of black women, even in critical stages of childhood development. This is due to what is found by Black geographies to be aspatiality, carceral geographies and mobility studies to be routine surveillance and over policing in recovery processes, and even in classrooms, and by social ecology & feminist theory to be the result of their oppression. The way to combat these issues and improve the health outcomes of Black women is through empowerment theory, social ecology, and the feminist model of therapy. These tools amongst others would drastically improve the connection of Black women to their communities, and would hopefully lead to less stressors and pressures being placed onto Black women. With these three factors, it can be assured that Black women would be empowered, understood contextually, as well as from a feminist lens.