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Death Reviews in the Context of Domestic Homicide in Low- to Middle-Income Countries: South Africa as a Case Study

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Domestic Homicides and Death Reviews

Abstract

Historical and current patterns documenting intimate partner violence (IPV) consistently demonstrate higher prevalence in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and African world regions (Devries et al. 2013) as well as among indigenous women around the world (see Chapter 10 this volume). Focusing specifically on intimate partner homicide, international studies show that more than 38% of female victims of homicide are killed by an intimate partner compared to 6% of men (Stockl et al. 2013). Such numbers are likely an underestimate, given the majority of studies have been conducted in developed countries with little information from other parts of the world (Stockl et al. 2014). The dearth of information, coupled with the greater risk of IPV in those regions, underscores the potential for more accurate tracking and the violence prevention role that may be played by domestic violence death review teams.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    South Africa has three recognized demographic surveillance sites all in rural areas. These projects aim to collect detailed socioeconomic, health, and other data in a prescribed area over an extended period. Data is collected through regular censuses and sites also collect information on deaths using verbal autopsies to identify the cause of death.

  2. 2.

    By 2008, baseline child mortality measures had increased in South Africa. These increasing rates were fuelled by the unabated spread of HIV compounded by the lack of political leadership and a weak health care system.

  3. 3.

    The Children’s Institute is a university-based policy research and advocacy unit established to promote effective policies and interventions that address the needs and rights of children.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sociology & Anthropology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Myrna Dawson

  2. Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Shanaaz Mathews

  3. Gender and Health Research Unit South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa

    Naeemah Abrahams

  4. John Hopkins School of Nursing, University of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jacquelyn Campbell

Authors
  1. Myrna Dawson
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  2. Shanaaz Mathews
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  3. Naeemah Abrahams
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  4. Jacquelyn Campbell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myrna Dawson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sociology & Anthropology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Myrna Dawson

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Dawson, M., Mathews, S., Abrahams, N., Campbell, J. (2017). Death Reviews in the Context of Domestic Homicide in Low- to Middle-Income Countries: South Africa as a Case Study. In: Dawson, M. (eds) Domestic Homicides and Death Reviews. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56276-0_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56276-0_12

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