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Rape perpetration by young, rural South African men: Prevalence, patterns and risk factors

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  • Jewkes, Rachel
  • Dunkle, Kristin
  • Koss, Mary P.
  • Levin, Jonathan B.
  • Nduna, Mzikazi
  • Jama, Nwabisa
  • Sikweyiya, Yandisa

Abstract

Sexual violence is a well-recognised global health problem, but there has been remarkably little research on men as perpetrators. The objectives of this paper are to describe the prevalence, patterns and factors associated with rape of an intimate partner and a woman who was not a partner with men aged 15-26 years in rural South Africa. The analysis presented here is of data collected during a baseline survey of participants in a cluster randomised controlled trial of an HIV behavioural intervention. A total of 1370 male volunteers were recruited from 70 rural South African villages. They completed a questionnaire asking about background, sexual practices and perpetration of rape and intimate partner violence. Among these men 16.3% had raped a non-partner, or participated in a form of gang rape; 8.4% had been sexually violent towards an intimate partner; and 79.1% had done neither. The mean age of first rape was 17 years. There was overlap between rape of a non-partner and partner, in that 44.3% of men who raped an intimate partner had also raped a non-partner, but overall the great majority of men who raped did not disclose both types of rape. The factors associated with rape of an intimate partner and non-partner had similarities and differences. After adjusting for the other variables, both forms of rape were strongly associated with ever having been physically violent to a partner, having had transactional sex with a casual partner and more sexual partners. Non-partner rape was also associated with peer-related variables, including gang membership and peer pressure to have sex, and also drug use. Non-partner rape was more common among wealthier and relatively more socially advantaged men. Both types of rape were associated with having more adverse childhood experiences. There was considerable overlap between rape-associated factors and known HIV risk factors, suggesting a need for further research on the interface of rape and HIV, and integrated prevention programming.

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  • Jewkes, Rachel & Dunkle, Kristin & Koss, Mary P. & Levin, Jonathan B. & Nduna, Mzikazi & Jama, Nwabisa & Sikweyiya, Yandisa, 2006. "Rape perpetration by young, rural South African men: Prevalence, patterns and risk factors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(11), pages 2949-2961, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:63:y:2006:i:11:p:2949-2961
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dunkle, Kristin L. & Jewkes, Rachel K. & Brown, Heather C. & Gray, Glenda E. & McIntryre, James A. & Harlow, Siobán D., 2004. "Transactional sex among women in Soweto, South Africa: prevalence, risk factors and association with HIV infection," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(8), pages 1581-1592, October.
    2. Jewkes, Rachel & Abrahams, Naeema, 2002. "The epidemiology of rape and sexual coercion in South Africa: an overview," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 1231-1244, October.
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    1. Carol Bower, 2014. "The Plight of Women and Children," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 652(1), pages 106-126, March.
    2. Dunkle, Kristin L. & Jewkes, Rachel & Nduna, Mzikazi & Jama, Nwabisa & Levin, Jonathan & Sikweyiya, Yandisa & Koss, Mary P., 2007. "Transactional sex with casual and main partners among young South African men in the rural Eastern Cape: Prevalence, predictors, and associations with gender-based violence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(6), pages 1235-1248, September.
    3. Jeremy Seekings, 2014. "The Social and Political Implications of Demographic Change in Post-Apartheid South Africa," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 652(1), pages 70-86, March.
    4. Bhana, Deevia, 2009. ""AIDS is rape!" gender and sexuality in children's responses to HIV and AIDS," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 596-603, August.
    5. Tlakale Nareadi Phasha, 2022. "Key informants’ perspectives about sexual victimisation of learners with intellectual disability in South Africa," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    6. Jeong, Joshua & Bhatia, Amiya & Skeen, Sarah & Adhia, Avanti, 2021. "From fathers to peers: Association between paternal violence victimization and peer violence perpetration among youth in Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    7. Jewkes, R. & Morrell, R., 2012. "Sexuality and the limits of agency among South African teenage women: Theorising femininities and their connections to HIV risk practises," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(11), pages 1729-1737.
    8. Bhana, Deevia, 2015. "When caring is not enough: The limits of teachers’ support for South African primary school-girls in the context of sexual violence," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 262-270.
    9. Yandisa Sikweyiya & Mercilene Machisa & Pinky Mahlangu & Ncediswa Nunze & Elizabeth Dartnall & Managa Pillay & Rachel Jewkes, 2023. "“I Don’t Want to Be Known as a Weak Man”: Insights and Rationalizations by Male Students on Men’s Sexual Violence Perpetration against Female Students on Campus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, March.

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