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The epidemiology of rape and sexual coercion in South Africa: an overview

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  • Jewkes, Rachel
  • Abrahams, Naeema

Abstract

During 1999 the issue of rape in South Africa was debated at the highest levels. The epidemiology of rape has become an issue of considerable political importance and sensitivity, with President Mbeki demanding an answer to the question: how much rape is there in South Africa? The purpose of this paper is both to summarise and synthesise the findings of research to provide an overview of the epidemiology of rape of women in South Africa and to show how difficult it is to answer the President's question. The review begins by considering why rape is so difficult to research. Data available shows that rape reported to the police (240 incidents of rape and attempted rape per 100,000 women each year) represents the tip of an ice berg of sexual coercion. Representative community-based surveys have found, for example, that in the 17-48 age group there are 2070 such incidents per 100,000 women per year. Non-consensual sex in marriage and dating relationships is believed to be very common but is usually not well reported in surveys. Forced sexual initiation is reported by almost a third of adolescent girls. In addition coerced consensual sex is a common problem in schools, workplaces and amongst peers. Knowledge of causal and contributory factors influencing the high levels of rape are also discussed. We conclude that the rape statistic for the country is currently elusive but levels of non-consensual and coerced sex are clearly very high. International comparison needs to be approached with caution because most developing countries lack the infrastructure for accurate crime reporting and do not have such a substantial body of survey data.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:55:y:2002:i:7:p:1231-1244
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    1. John D. Ditekemena & Christophe Luhata & Hypolite M. Mavoko & Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo & Dalau M. Nkamba & Wim Van Damme & Shahul H. Ebrahim & Christiana Noestlinger & Robert Colebunders, 2021. "Intimate Partners Violence against Women during a COVID-19 Lockdown Period: Results of an Online Survey in 7 Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    2. Tania de Villiers & Sinegugu Duma & Naeemah Abrahams, 2021. "“As young men we have a role to play in preventing sexual violence”: Development and relevance of the men with conscience intervention to prevent sexual violence," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Kausik Gangopadhyay, 2015. "Sexual Violence: A Model of Occupational Choice and Gender Wage Gap," Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, , vol. 27(2), pages 219-244, July.
    4. Jewkes, Rachel & Penn-Kekana, Loveday & Rose-Junius, Hetty, 2005. "''If they rape me, I can't blame them": Reflections on gender in the social context of child rape in South Africa and Namibia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(8), pages 1809-1820, October.
    5. Phyllis Dako-Gyeke & Adolphina Addoley Addo-Lartey & Deda Ogum Alangea & Yandisa Sikweyiya & Esnat Dorothy Chirwa & Dorcas Coker-Appiah & Rachel Jewkes & Richard Mawuena Kofi Adanu, 2019. "'Small small quarrels bring about happiness or love in the relationships’: Exploring community perceptions and gendered norms contributing to male perpetrated intimate partner violence in the Central ," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-22, November.
    6. Chandra Pedamallu & Linet Ozdamar & Erik Kropat & Gerhard-Wilhelm Weber, 2012. "A system dynamics model for intentional transmission of HIV/AIDS using cross impact analysis," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 20(2), pages 319-336, June.
    7. 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.
    8. McKell A. Jorgensen-Wells & Spencer L. James, 2020. "Social Capital and Age at Sexual Debut: Race Differences in South Africa," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, October.
    9. Schwandt, Hilary M. & Underwood, Carol, 2016. "Engaging school personnel in making schools safe for girls in Botswana, Malawi, and Mozambique," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 53-58.
    10. Linda Scott & Catherine Dolan & Mary Johnstone–Louis & Kimberly Sugden & Maryalice Wu, 2012. "Enterprise and Inequality: A Study of Avon in South Africa," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(3), pages 543-568, May.
    11. 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.
    12. Andrew Osehi Enaifoghe, 2019. "Gender Based Violence and the Global Gendered Viewpoint Approaches to Building a Peaceful South Africa," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 10(2), pages 15-25.
    13. Sikkema, Kathleen J. & Choi, Karmel W. & Robertson, Corne & Knettel, Brandon A. & Ciya, Nonceba & Knippler, Elizabeth T. & Watt, Melissa H. & Joska, John A., 2018. "Development of a coping intervention to improve traumatic stress and HIV care engagement among South African women with sexual trauma histories," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 148-156.
    14. Beiwen Chen & Jasper Assche & Maarten Vansteenkiste & Bart Soenens & Wim Beyers, 2015. "Does Psychological Need Satisfaction Matter When Environmental or Financial Safety are at Risk?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 745-766, June.
    15. Bott, Sarah & Morrison, Andrew & Ellsberg, Mary, 2005. "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in middle and low-income countries : a global review and analysis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3618, The World Bank.
    16. Orner, Phyllis & Harries, Jane & Cooper, Diane & Moodley, Jennifer & Hoffman, Margaret & Becker, Julie & McGrory, Elizabeth & Dabash, Rasha & Bracken, Hillary, 2006. "Challenges to microbicide introduction in South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 968-978, August.
    17. Nina Wilén & Lindy Heinecken, 2018. "Regendering the South African army: Inclusion, reversal and displacement," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(6), pages 670-686, November.
    18. Megan Quinn & Gabrielle Caldara & Kathleen Collins & Heather Owens & Ifeoma Ozodiegwu & Elaine Loudermilk & Jill D. Stinson, 2018. "Methods for understanding childhood trauma: modifying the adverse childhood experiences international questionnaire for cultural competency," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(1), pages 149-151, January.
    19. Gage, Anastasia J., 2005. "Women's experience of intimate partner violence in Haiti," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 343-364, July.
    20. Addisu Shunu Beyene & Catherine Chojenta & Deborah J. Loxton, 2020. "Gender-Based Violence Perpetration by Male High School Students in Eastern Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-14, July.
    21. Matzopoulos, Richard & Bowman, Brett & Mathews, Shanaaz & Myers, Jonny, 2010. "Applying upstream interventions for interpersonal violence prevention: An uphill struggle in low- to middle-income contexts," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 62-70, September.
    22. 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.
    23. Md. Kamruzzaman & Sumona Sharmin & Md. Abdul Hakim, 2017. "Socio-Psychology of Rapping in Criminological Nexus," Academic Journal of Life Sciences, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 3(11), pages 82-88, 11-2017.

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