Development of strategies to empower women against intimate partner violence occurrences in Vhembe District, Limpopo province

Abstract

Violence against women in South Africa is regarded as a national emergency. Although the national picture reflects a decrease of 69.4% from 9 990 cases between 29 March and 22 April 2019 to 3,061 since the lockdown until 20 April 2020, with a difference of 6,929, these statistics are still worryingly high because one death is too many. This study developed strategies to empower women against intimate partner violence occurrences in the Vhembe district. The study was divided into two phases, Phases 1 and 2. Phase 1 utilised an explanatory sequential mixed methods design with quantitative data collected first, followed a qualitative to explore the issue further.. The mixing of results occurred during the interpretation of the results. For the quantitative strand, the census sampling technique was used with a sample of 792 domestic violence victims. A non-probability purposive/judgmental sampling method was used to select 25 participants for the qualitative strand. Quantitative data gathered using questionnaires was entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27 software and analysed using descriptive statistics. and The results were presented in frequency table and charts. Qualitative data was analysed with interpretative phenomenological analysis with the aid of Atlas it8. The findings of the study were that: most of the women knew what IPV is, its forms, causes, and factors as well as resources available to the victims. The findings on knowledge component regarding safety planning and legal route present showed that the majority did not know the safety planning preventative measures that they can use to prevent their partners from harming them. The X2 (315.861a; df = 6; N =685; p = 0.000) results revealed a significant association between the use of legal route and religious affiliation of respondents. The intervention strategies were developed from the findings and then validated for relevance and acceptance by the stakeholders. The study concluded that the state of IPV intervention strategies in the province of Limpopo was ineffective in addressing the persistent IPV problems in the communities. The study recommended that the Department of Health, Justice and Social Development as well as victim empowerment centres dealing with IPV adopt and implement the developed intervention strategy and engage NGOs, NPO’s, faith-based organisations and other stakeholders for support to roll it over in one sub-district to assess its effectiveness and ensure that they revisit and review the counselling materials and ensure that facilities are offering support to perpetrators and victims.