South African university women's perspectives on intimate partner violence: a qualitative study of reactions to a tailored vignette

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is an ongoing issue in South Africa, which has the highest rates of violence against women and girls in the world. Intimate partner violence is common in Limpopo, where women, including university students, experience elevated rates of violent crime. This qualitative study was conducted to examine university students’ perspectives regarding intimate partner violence among their peers. A culturally tailored vignette was used to prompt reflection from 38 female university students in Limpopo. Audiotaped responses to the vignette were transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were developed from participants’ responses to the vignette: cultural beliefs, the university’s role in intimate partner violence, likely outcomes of intimate partner violence, and future interventions. Intimate partner violence was seen as a common problem within the university. Students’ responses indicated that cultural beliefs perpetuated violence against women, with women entering and remaining in abusive relationships for financial security or resources such as housing. Students also reported lack of adequate on-campus housing options, limited knowledge of intimate partner violence, and few actions to reduce intimate partner violence, all of which placed then at heightened risk of intimate partner violence.

Keywords:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV)
• South Africa
• female university students
• cultural factors

Acknowledgements

We thank Carmen Toomer, Charlotte Brake, Jemalyn Harvey, Johnda Washington, Megan Dombrowski, Ndamulelo Netshivhale, Phathutshedzo Nevhutalu, and Takalani Tanganedzeni, the research assistants who worked on this study. We also thank the faculty and staff members who mentored the team conducting this study, including Vhonani Netshandama, Ishan Williams, Liz Rogawski McQuade, Cathy Campbell, Jeanita Richardson, Kelsie Kelly, Susan Kools, Rebecca Dillingham, and Amber Steen.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported primarily by the US National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities under grant number T37MD008659 and the University of Virginia Center for Global Health scholar award programme. The work was also supported in part by funds from the Interdisciplinary Research Training in Child and Adolescent Primary Care funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the National Research Service Award (NRSA) in Primary Medical Care grant number T32HP22239 (PI: Borowsky).