Silent witnesses: unveiling the epidemic of femicides in North-west Tshwane, South Africa - a decade of analysis
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Femicides in Garankuwa, South Africa, show a declining trend but remain high, disproportionately affecting young black women. Prevention programs must address socio-economic factors and firearm access to reduce these gender-based killings.
Area Of Science
- Public Health
- Criminology
- Forensic Pathology
Background
- Femicides, the gender-based killing of women, represent a critical global public health concern, with South Africa experiencing exceptionally high rates.
- This research specifically investigates femicides in the Garankuwa area of North-west Tshwane, addressing existing knowledge gaps regarding epidemiology, demographics, circumstances, and pathology.
- The study utilizes data from the Garankuwa mortuary over a decade to analyze contributing risk factors within the context of systemic gender inequality.
Purpose Of The Study
- To determine the demographics and incidence rates of femicides in North-west Tshwane.
- To analyze the circumstances, including timing, location, and demographic risk factors, associated with femicides.
- To identify the causes and pathological characteristics of femicides and observe trends over a ten-year period.
Main Methods
- A retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive analysis of deceased females admitted to Garankuwa mortuary between 2009 and 2018.
- Inclusion criteria focused on female cases with suspected homicidal deaths, excluding suicides, accidents, and natural deaths.
- Data collection involved the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS), cross-verified with post-mortem reports, police records, and death registers.
Main Results
- Femicides constituted 17.5% of female deaths at the mortuary, with an average incidence rate of 11.2 per 100,000 females, generally declining but with peaks in 2013 and 2016.
- Most femicides occurred in September and December, primarily at home, followed by residential areas and medical facilities, with Temba, Rietgat, and Akasia being high-incidence geographic areas.
- Victims were predominantly black women aged 18-39. Leading causes of death included gunshot wounds, sharp force injuries, blunt force trauma, strangulation, and asphyxia, predominantly affecting the neck and head.
Conclusions
- Femicides in North-west Tshwane exhibit high incidence and specific characteristics linked to socio-economic disparities and racial demographics.
- Findings necessitate targeted prevention programs, enhanced firearm control, and community-based violence reduction strategies.
- Young black women are identified as a particularly vulnerable demographic, requiring tailored protective and educational initiatives.
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