Investigating the prevalence of TBI in a sample of South African women who have experienced IPV in a South African context

Zimri, Caron

Investigating the prevalence of TBI in a sample of South African women who have experienced IPV in a South African context

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Psychology

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are widespread, both globally and in South Africa. It is crucial to recognize the link between IPV and TBI. Increasing numbers of international studies have demonstrated concerning rates of TBI in women who have experienced IPV. However, such studies have not yet been conducted in South Africa. Therefore, the current study aims to address this literature gap by investigating rates of possible IPV-related TBI in South African women and their lived experiences. The current study sample included women who have experienced IPV (n=57) and women who have not experienced IPV (n=24). The research utilized a mixed methods approach, recruiting participants from low- to middle-income communities and shelters for abused women in Cape Town. Quantitative data were gathered through self-report questionnaires, namely a demographic questionnaire, the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire (BISQ), and the Women Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), while qualitative data were obtained via semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used for the quantitative analysis, and thematic analysis was applied for the interview data. Findings showed a significant prevalence of TBI among women with a history of IPV (51 of the 57 / 89.5%) compared to those without reported TBIs that were IPV- related. Four themes emerged from the qualitative results: 1) living with and experiencing physical abuse, 2) the impact of physical abuse on the face, neck, and head, 3) the impact of IPV on change to and in self, and 4) the impact of IPV on future intimate relationships. The limitations of the study included challenges related to language, sample size, time constraints, and funding. Despite these limitations, the study yielded valuable data, highlighting the need for future research to address these constraints and increase the focus on screening for TBI among women who have experienced IPV.

Keywords

intimate partner violence

traumatic brain injuries

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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