Adolescent dating relationships : sexual coercion and high risk sexual practices

This study investigated coercive and high risk sexual practices in South African adolescent dating relationships. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected from secondary school learners in a community near Johannesburg. Of 928 learners surveyed, 23.5% of females and 53.7% of males ever had sex. Of these, 57.8% of females and 44.2% of males reported sexual victimisation, and 46.8% of females and 50% of males reported perpetrating sexual coercion in a relationship. Significantly more males engaged in risky sex than females. Among females, sexual coercion was significantly linked to risky sexual behaviour. Among males, alcohol and perpetration of sexual coercion were significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour. Focus group data reveal how dominant constructions of gender normalise male coercion and contribute to risky sexual practices. Recommendations for sexual health initiatives include introducing alternative discourses of female sexual desire and male sexual responsibility as a means for building healthier adolescent dating relationships.PsychologyM.A. (Psychology

Protest injuries : A situational analysis of injurious protests in Gauteng

In this article, we investigate contextual and situational circumstances of protest events that record injurious outcomes for civilians and examine how these differ from protests which do not record such outcomes. Using the IRIS database, we examine how contextual factors, including protest period, protest location, reason for protest, and situational factors, such as type of protest, damage to property, arrests and police response contribute to civilian injury. Using logistic regression analysis, it was found that: 1) protest-related injuries were more frequent during the late-2000s than the 2010–15 period; 2) protest location was not a significant predictor of protest injury; 3) protests which recorded arrests and damage to property were more likely to report injurious outcomes; and 4) the addition of an aggressive police response was significant in determining protestor injury outcomes. Our findings have implications for public policing strategies, highlighting the role of different modalities of police response in the mitigation or escalation of injuries at protest events

Protest injuries: A situational analysis of injurious protests in Gauteng

In this article, we investigate contextual and situational circumstances of protest events that record injurious outcomes for civilians and examine how these differ from protests which do not record such outcomes. Using the IRIS database, we examine how contextual factors, including protest period, protest location, type of protest, reason for protest, and situational factors, such as damage to property, arrests and police response contribute to civilian injury. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that: 1) protest-related injuries were more frequent during the late-2000s than the 2010-15 period; 2) protest location was not a significant predictor of protest injury; 3) protests which recorded arrests and damage to property were more likely to report injurious outcomes; and 4) the addition of an aggressive police response was significant in determining protestor injury outcomes. Our findings have implications for public policing strategies, highlighting the role of different modalities of police response in the mitigation or escalation of violence at protest events

Adolescent homicide victimisation in Johannesburg, South Africa

In South Africa there has been growing national concern about the high levels of interpersonal violence especially among young people. Several incidents of school homicides in particular made newspaper headlines during 2006 and a national public hearing on “School Based Violence” was also convened by the Human Rights Commission to address the problem. However, incidents of school-associated violent deaths represent only a small proportion of adolescent homicides. The National Injury Mortality Surveillance System, which captures approximately 40% of the annual nonnatural deaths in South Africa, reveal that the majority (52%) of nonnatural deaths among youth between the age of 15 and 24 years are due to violence. Unpublished NIMSS data for 2004 shows that of the 8575 violent deaths where age was recorded, young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years accounted for more than a quarter (26.3%) of homicides.Institute for Social and Health Science

The Situational Context of Adolescent Homicide Victimization in Johannesburg, South Africa

Although studies have described the incidence and epidemiology of adolescent homicide victimization in South Africa, little is known about the situational contexts in which they occur. This study aimed to describe the victim, offender, and event characteristics of adolescent homicide and to generate a typology based on the particular types of situational contexts associated with adolescent homicide in South Africa. Data on homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) that occurred in Johannesburg (South Africa) during the period 2001-2007 were obtained from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and police case records. Of the 195 cases available for analysis, 81% of the victims were male. Most of the offenders were male (90%), comprising of strangers (42%) and friends/ acquaintances (37%). Arguments (33%) were the most common precipitating circumstances, followed by revenge (11%), robbery (11%), and acts of vigilantism/retribution for a crime (8%). Through the use of cluster analysis, the study identified three categories of adolescent homicide: (a) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event, (b) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument, and (c) female victims killed by male offenders. The results can serve to inform the development of tailored and focused strategies for the prevention of adolescent homicide.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

Neighbourhood correlates of homicidal strangulation in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa

Drawing on the structural theories of strain and control, the current study examined the neighbourhood correlates of homicidal strangulation in the City of Johannesburg in South Africa for the period 2001-2010. A principal components analysis was conducted, and binomial regression models fitted to examine the relationships between neighbourhood characteristics and fatal strangulation. The results demonstrated partial support for the theories of strain and control and indicated that the effect of theoretically and empirically derived socio-structural factors on homicidal strangulation is variant for different socio-demographic groups, with significant effects most distinct for blacks. The study recognises strangulation as a unique phenomenon that is distinct from overall homicide.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

The incidence and characteristics of homicides in elderly compared with non-elderly age groups in Johannesburg, South Africa

Background. Even though the rate of eldercide (homicide in the age group ≥60 years) in South Africa (SA) is higher than the global rate, it receives little attention compared with homicide in younger (<60 years) age groups. Objectives. To: (i) establish the proportion and rates of eldercide relative to homicide in young adult and middle-aged populations, and determine whether proportions of homicide across the age groups differ by race; and (ii) determine differences in homicide victim and incident characteristics across the three age categories and establish whether these differences vary by race. Methods. This retrospective study analysed homicide data for adults (aged ≥15 years) drawn from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) for the City of Johannesburg, SA (2001 - 2010). Percentages and rates were used to describe the incidence of eldercide (age ≥60 years) relative to homicide in middle age (35 - 59 years) and youth (15 - 34 years). Eldercide and middle-age and youth homicides were compared by sex, race, weapon used, scene of injury, day of the week and time of death. Results. For the 10-year period 2001 - 2010, NIMSS registered a total of 14 678 adult homicide deaths for Johannesburg. Of these, a very small proportion (3.8%) were eldercides, 46.9% were middle-age homicides, and the majority (58.4%) were young adult homicides. The average annual eldercide rate (23.1/100 000) was also lower than the rate for the middle-aged (46.9/100 000) and young adult (58.4/100 000) groups. However, the difference in rates between the age groups decreased considerably over the study period. Race-specific patterns were observed in the distribution of homicide across age groups. Compared with the circumstantial patterns for youth and middle-age homicides, eldercide involved higher proportions of females and white victims, and greater use of blunt force and strangulation. Whereas homicides in the other age groups tended to occur in public spaces and during weekends and nights, eldercides occurred mainly in a home, during the week and during daytime. Conclusions. The characteristics of eldercide differ from those of youth and middle-age homicides. The specificities of the circumstances suggest that interventions should take cognisance of the temporal and spatial dimensions of eldercide and go beyond the regular security and policing measures to ensure the safety of the elderly in JohannesburgInstitute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

The incidence and characteristics of homicides in elderly compared with non-elderly age groups in Johannesburg, South Africa

Background. Even though the rate of eldercide (homicide in the age group ≥60 years) in South Africa (SA) is higher than the global rate, it receives little attention compared with homicide in younger (<60 years) age groups. Objectives. To: (i) establish the proportion and rates of eldercide relative to homicide in young adult and middle-aged populations, and determine whether proportions of homicide across the age groups differ by race; and (ii) determine differences in homicide victim and incident characteristics across the three age categories and establish whether these differences vary by race. Methods. This retrospective study analysed homicide data for adults (aged ≥15 years) drawn from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) for the City of Johannesburg, SA (2001 - 2010). Percentages and rates were used to describe the incidence of eldercide (age ≥60 years) relative to homicide in middle age (35 - 59 years) and youth (15 - 34 years). Eldercide and middle-age and youth homicides were compared by sex, race, weapon used, scene of injury, day of the week and time of death. Results. For the 10-year period 2001 - 2010, NIMSS registered a total of 14 678 adult homicide deaths for Johannesburg. Of these, a very small proportion (3.8%) were eldercides, 46.9% were middle-age homicides, and the majority (58.4%) were young adult homicides. The average annual eldercide rate (23.1/100 000) was also lower than the rate for the middle-aged (46.9/100 000) and young adult (58.4/100 000) groups. However, the difference in rates between the age groups decreased considerably over the study period. Race-specific patterns were observed in the distribution of homicide across age groups. Compared with the circumstantial patterns for youth and middle-age homicides, eldercide involved higher proportions of females and white victims, and greater use of blunt force and strangulation. Whereas homicides in the other age groups tended to occur in public spaces and during weekends and nights, eldercides occurred mainly in a home, during the week and during daytime. Conclusions. The characteristics of eldercide differ from those of youth and middle-age homicides. The specificities of the circumstances suggest that interventions should take cognisance of the temporal and spatial dimensions of eldercide and go beyond the regular security and policing measures to ensure the safety of the elderly in Johannesburg.Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

The Situational Context of Adolescent Homicide Victimization in Johannesburg, South Africa

Although studies have described the incidence and epidemiology of adolescent homicide victimization in South Africa, little is known about the situational contexts in which they occur. This study aimed to describe the victim, offender, and event characteristics of adolescent homicide and to generate a typology based on the particular types of situational contexts associated with adolescent homicide in South Africa. Data on homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) that occurred in Johannesburg (South Africa) during the period 2001-2007 were obtained from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and police case records. Of the 195 cases available for analysis, 81% of the victims were male. Most of the offenders were male (90%), comprising of strangers (42%) and friends/acquaintances (37%). Arguments (33%) were the most common precipitating circumstances, followed by revenge (11%), robbery (11%), and acts of vigilantism/retribution for a crime (8%). Through the use of cluster analysis, the study identified three categories of adolescent homicide: (a) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event, (b) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument, and (c) female victims killed by male offenders. The results can serve to inform the development of tailored and focused strategies for the prevention of adolescent homicide.College of Human Science

Non-experimental research designs: Investigating the spatial distribution and social ecology of male homicide

Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS