Browsing by Author "Abrahams, Naeemah"

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    Child death reviews in the context of child abuse fatalities - learning from international practice
    (Children's Institute, 2005-03) Mathews, Shanaaz; Abrahams, Naeemah; Martin, Lorna J
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    Forensic medicine in South Africa: associations between medical practice and legal case progression and outcomes in female murders
    (Public Library of Science, 2011) Abrahams, Naeemah; Jewkes, Rachel; Martin, Lorna J; Mathews, Shanaaz
    BACKGROUND: Forensic medicine has been largely by-passed by the tide of health systems research and evidence based medicine. Murder victims form a central part of forensic medical examiners' case load, and women murdered by intimate partners are an important subgroup, representing the most severe form and consequence of intimate partner violence. Our aim was to describe the epidemiology of female murder in South Africa (by intimate and non-intimate partners); and to describe and compare autopsy findings, forensic medical management of cases and the contribution of these to legal outcomes. METHODS: We did a retrospective national study in a proportionate random sample of 25 medico-legal laboratories to identify all homicides in 1999 of women aged 14 years and over. Data were abstracted from the mortuary file and autopsy report, and collected from a police interview. FINDINGS: In 21.5% of cases the perpetrator was convicted. Factors associated with a conviction for the female murders included having a history of intimate partner violence 1.18 (95%CI: 0.16-2.20), weapon recovered 1.36 (95% CI:0.58-2.15) and a detective visiting the crime scene 1.57 (95% CI:0.14-3.00). None of the forensic medical activities increased the likelihood of a conviction. CONCLUSION: The findings raise important questions about the role of forensic medicine in these cases.
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    Gender differences in homicide of neonates, infants, and children under 5 y in South Africa: results from the cross-sectional 2009 National Child Homicide Study
    (Public Library of Science, 2016) Abrahams, Naeemah; Mathews, Shanaaz; Martin, Lorna J; Lombard, Carl; Nannan, Nadine; Jewkes, Rachel
    Jewkes and colleagues present a cross-sectional study that reveals levels of child homicide in South Africa. Identifying causes and vulnerable mothers will lead to prevention methods and strategies.
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    Men's use of violence against intimate partners : a study of working men in Cape Town
    (2002) Abrahams, Naeemah
    Violence against women is a universal problem and is widely recognised as a fundamental barrier to women's health and gender equality. Working with men to change their behaviour is increasingly acknowledged as a critical part of the solution to the problem. Data on risk factors that explain men's use of violence have been limited. Such data is required before interventions can be developed. The aims of this study was to describe the prevalence of different types of violence men use against their partners, as well as the risk factors for men's use of such violence. The study was based among men working at three municipalities in Cape Town. A random sample of 1800 names was chosen, from among which 1414 interviews were held. Prevalence estimates and risk factor analyses for use of violence against an intimate partner were done.
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    Women with disabilities' experiences of gender-based violence in Cape Town, South Africa
    (2019) Van Der Heijden, Ingrid; Harries, Jane; Abrahams, Naeemah
    Background: Little is known about violence against women with disabilities in South Africa. Given that South Africa has a high prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV), especially intimate partner violence (IPV), there is a need to highlight the violence experiences of women with disabilities within their communities, intimate partnerships, and other settings. Aims: The aim of the thesis was to investigate how South African women with disabilities experience GBV. In doing so, the study’s objectives were to highlight the nature and forms of violence they experience, the social constructions of women with disabilities’ intimate partner relationships, and the barriers and enablers to GBV support they may encounter. Methods: This thesis takes the form of a qualitative research study that was conducted with 30 women with physical and sensory disabilities, and 19 disability and GBV service providers in Cape Town, South Africa. Repeat in-depth interviews and focus groups followed a narrative approach that was used to elicit participants’ stories, perspectives and lived experiences. Thematic analysis was conducted on the data, and interpretation of the data used an intersectional framework, with an emphasis on social approaches to disability and resistance theories. Findings: Published or submitted papers included in the thesis reveal how women with disabilities in South Africa may experience additional layers of GBV because of their disability status, and consider how gender inequality, disability stigma, and disability-specific forms of abuse shape participants’ lives and experiences of violence (Paper 1). The thesis claims that, while women with disabilities are vulnerable to GBV, particularly IPV, some women have agency and are able to manage disability stigma and intimate partnerships to avoid acts of violence (Paper 2). The thesis finds that, while women with disabilities do seek help after IPV and sexual violence, they encounter unique barriers to GBV service-provision. Service providers and women with disabilities acknowledge various limitations to providing inclusive and accessible services to women with disabilities who experience violence (Paper 3). The thesis also makes a series of recommendations for undertaking ethical GBV research with women with disabilities, and argues for the need to review current ethical guidelines to facilitate future disability-inclusive GBV research (Paper 4). Conclusion: The thesis recommends that violence prevention efforts should address the role of disability stigma, facilitate economically empowering opportunities for women living with disabilities in the country, and provide a range of accessible mental health services and GBV care and support services to facilitate better intimate partnership outcomes. Strengthened pathways to violence prevention and post-violence care and support should be coordinated by both disability and GBV sectors. The thesis calls for population data to reveal the prevalence and adverse public-health outcomes of GBV against women with disabilities in South Africa and other low-middle income countries (LMICs). Future epidemiological research should include validated disability measures and measures of disability-specific forms of violence that may compound GBV. Understanding the magnitude of violence against women with disabilities is the first step in the public-health approach to GBV prevention and requires collaborative research and surveillance efforts.