In South Africa one out of every six woman is regularly assaulted by their partner and in at least 46 per cent of cases, the men involved also abuse the children living with the woman, said Dr Lerato Dikobe-Kalane, PsychMG (Psychiatry Management Group) board member.<\/p>\n
In light of 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children taking place from November 25 to December 10, Dr Dikobe-Kalane said that social services and the general community needs to actively address the situation and protect those vulnerable to such abuse and violence.<\/p>
She says that the statistics paint a dire picture with a recently released Optimus Study on child sexual abuse and maltreatment finding that one in every three young South Africans has experienced some sort of sexual abuse by the age of 17.<\/p>\n
The study is the first nationally representative of the extent and impact of child sexual abuse and maltreatment in South Africa.<\/p>
Dr Dikobe-Kalane said that unfortunately many cases go unreported hindering a comprehensive understanding of the full extent of abusive and violent episodes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen are still unaware of their rights whilst others are afraid of further violence from the perpetrator if they attempt legal action.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is even more compounded by the introduction of the new Domestic Violence Act, which a lot of women do not fully understand, and the widespread non-compliance to the Act at police station level, where domestic violence cases are not being recorded as they should be,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said the prevalence of violence has a negative effect on women\u2019s physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health, and may increase their vulnerability to HIV.<\/p>\n
\u201cDomestic violence can lead to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep difficulties, eating disorders, emotional distress, substance abuse and suicide attempts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other health effects include headaches, back pain, abdominal pain, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, limited mobility and poor overall health.<\/p>\n
Sexual violence, particularly during childhood, can lead to increased smoking, drug and alcohol misuse, and risky sexual behaviours in later life.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren who grow up in families where there is violence may suffer a range of behavioural and emotional disturbances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese can also be associated with perpetrating or experiencing violence later in life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIntimate partner violence has also been associated with higher rates of infant and child mortality and morbidity due to diarrhoeal\u00a0disease, malnutrition etc,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Dr Dikobe-Kalane there is unfortunately not one tangible reason which can be highlighted as the main factor driving abuse and violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is still a prevalent unequal positioning of women relative to men and the use of violence to resolve conflict is still seen as a norm in both intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have found that the underlying reasons for such acts of violence are usually due to lower levels of education, unemployment, exposure as a child to maltreatment, witnessing family violence, antisocial personality disorder, harmful use of alcohol, having multiple partners or suspected by their partners of infidelity and attitudes that are accepting of violence and gender inequality.<\/p>\n
\u201cSexual violence especially, is linked to beliefs in family honour and sexual purity, ideologies of male sexual entitlement and weak legal sanctions for sexual violence,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
In addressing the situation Dr Dikobe-Kalane pointed out that more resources are needed to strengthen the prevention of abuse and violence against women and children.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchool-based programmes to prevent violence within dating relationships have shown effectiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, these have yet to be assessed for use in resource-poor\u00a0areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cGender equality training which promotes communication and relationship skills within couples and communities with education on reducing access to and the harmful use of alcohol and changing cultural gender norms has shown some promise but needs to be evaluated further.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment departments have to enact legislation and develop policies that effectively address discrimination against women, promote gender equality; support women and help to move towards more peaceful cultural norms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth care and other service providers have to be sensitised and educated on domestic violence in order to be in a position for identifying the signs and reporting to authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that there\u2019s help available to victims.<\/p>\n
Victims can safely approach organisations such as People Against Woman Abuse (POWA), Hlayisani White Door Centre, Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children (SBCWC), Vukuzenzele and Mercy House if they are exposed to any of the following forms of violent situations:<\/p>\n
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