This thesis includes four studies investigating the experiences of abused women. According to ecological approaches different systems should be considered when conducting research into abused women and their experiences. The first study involved women who successfully left an abusive relationship. An ecological approach was used to investigate the experiences of the women in the different phases of their relationship, including the initial attraction to the partner, the development and sustaining of the abuse and her attempts to leave until her final decision to leave permanently. An important finding was the importance of considering and investigating all systems and levels when dealing with abused women, including those who have left and those who are contemplating leaving this relationship. The second study found that women who experienced physical abuse were often hurt in anatomical locations that were indicative of impulsive violence. The abuser used any object in the heat of the moment to attack the victim and no premeditated planning was evident in the type of injuries sustained. The women further reported that medical practitioners did not investigate the causes of injuries and that they were not referred to social services or organisations dealing with abused women, although they were recognised as suffering from abuse. The intersection of abuse of women and HIV was the topic of focus of the third study. A review of the records of abused women revealed that many abused women were subjected to risk factors for contracting HIV, with counsellors focussing only on abuse issues. Longitudinal case studies, of women exposed to both conditions, revealed that they lacked social support and were often secondarily victimised by the social welfare systems. An environmental scan found that social and health care services were not accessible to these women. The final study investigated intervention strategies to combat burnout in workers at an organisation dealing with abused women. The importance and effectiveness of creative exercises and art sessions were determined in combination with debriefing and supervision sessions. The studies all considered systems that are important in service delivery to abused women. A holistic and systemic investigation and treatment of abused women is shown to be essential, as is the importance of grass roots research. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

This research was initiated, based on the recommendations of Groenewald (2006:126-127), in the Evaluation of Programmes of Shelters for Victims of Abuse in Gauteng Province, to develop a shelter service delivery model. The research is exploratory in nature and outlines the literature review, methodologies, tested shelter model and findings based on the experiences of stakeholders. These stakeholders are responsible for the registration and management of shelters for victims of abuse in South Africa. They include nine Provincial Victim Empowerment Programme Co-ordinators and thirty-two shelter managers. The main objectives for shelter managers and Government Departments, such as Social Development, are to provide care, support and protection. The aim is also to empower those who were caught up in relationships, fraught with gender-based violence, as well as to break the cycle of violence. This is presented in the guidelines for a shelter service delivery model for victims of abuse. The shelter model focuses on three phases: o Intake procedures o Programmes and services o Exit strategy These three phases address both psycho-social issues and the self care of service providers. The main purpose of the shelter model is to provide social service providers with a structural format for intervention with victims of abuse and their significant others. The outcome, for most of them, should be to come to terms with themselves and create a personal vision for the future without abuse or, alternatively, to take a firm stand against such actions. The model is based on a person-centered approach in order to assist victims of violence, within a development model, to attain effective living. Other findings of the research are, among others, that there is neither legislation, nor registration procedures for shelters for victims of abuse in place, except for Non-Profit Organisations, which is voluntary. It is recommended that Government should consider the amendment of the Domestic Violence Act, 116 of 1998. These amendments should include accreditation of service providers, registration requirements, norms, standards and uniform funding criteria. / Social Work / D. Phil. (Social Work)

Text in English, with abstracts and keywords in English, Afrikaans and isiZulu / South Africa has been known to have the highest rate of gender-based violence globally. This qualitative study locates gender-based violence using the interpretive phenomenological paradigm and multicultural feminism as both allowed participants’ to be given a voice. This study thus enabled women who have been abused to discuss their perception of their own experiences. The primary aim of the study is orientated towards an increased understanding of the possible barriers that prevent women from leaving their abusers. The main findings point out how victim manipulation, financial abuse, isolation and responses by social and legal services serve as barriers to the women leaving their abusive partners. The secondary aim contributes to an understanding of the risk factors influencing gender-based violence. Furthermore, the study explores the impact of prolonged abuse on the participants. The criteria used for the selection were women with diverse backgrounds from the Inanda district, who have lived in abusive relationships for two years or longer. Eight participants completed the research process and were selected using the purposive sampling method. Significantly, this study provides an insight into the reality of how women process and give meanings to their experiences of abuse. Hence, the research sought to inform the literature and the greater community on the lived experiences of women in abusive relationships. / Suid-Afrika het wêreldwyd die hoogste persentasie van geslagsgebaseerde geweld. Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie plaas geslagsgebaseerde geweld met behulp van die interpretatiewe fenomenologiese paradigma en multikulturele feminisme, aangesien albei die deelnemers 'n stem laat kry. Hierdie studie het dus vroue wat mishandel is, in staat gestel om hul persepsie van hul eie ervarings te bespreek. Die primêre doel van die studie is gerig op 'n groter begrip van die moontlike hindernisse wat vroue verhoed om hul misbruik te verlaat. Die belangrikste bevindings wys daarop hoe manipulasie van slagoffer, finansiële mishandeling, isolasie en reaksies deur maatskaplike en regsdienste dien as hindernisse vir die verlaat van hul vrouens met hul maat. Die sekondêre doel dra by tot die begrip van die risikofaktore wat geslagsgebaseerde geweld beïnvloed. Verder ondersoek die studie die impak van langdurige mishandeling op die deelnemers. Die kriteria wat gebruik is vir die keuring was vroue met verskillende agtergronde uit die distrik Inanda, wat al twee jaar of langer in beledigende verhoudings leef. Agt deelnemers het die navorsingsproses voltooi en is met behulp van die doelgerigte steekproefmetode gekies. Hierdie studie bied 'n insig in die werklikheid van hoe vroue hul ervarings van mishandeling verwerk en betekenisse gee. Daarom het die navorsing probeer om die literatuur en die groter gemeenskap in te lig oor die ervarings van vroue in beledigende verhoudings. / Iningizimu Afrika yaziwa ukuthi inesilinganiso esiphakeme kunazo zonke sodlame olususelwa ebulilini emhlabeni jikelele. Lolu cwaningo lwekhwalithi lubheka udlame olususelwa ebulilini kusetshenziswa ukuhumusha okuyi-phenographical paradigm kanye nobungqingili bezamasiko njengoba bobabili abahlanganyeli bavunyelwe ukuba banikezwe izwi. Lolu cwaningo lwenze ukuthi abesifazane abahlukunyeziwe bakhulume ngokubona kwabo ngokwenzeka kwabo. Inhloso yokuqala yocwaningo isekelwe ekuqondeni okwandayo kwemigoqo engahle ivimbele abesifazane ukuba bashiye abahlukumezi babo. Okutholakele okukhulu kuveza ukuthi ukuxhaphaza izisulu, ukuhlukunyezwa ngokwezimali, ukwahlukaniswa nezimpendulo ngezinsizakalo zezenhlalo nezomthetho kusebenza njengezithiyo kwabesifazane beshiya abalingani babo abahlukumezayo. Inhloso yesibili inomthelela ekuqondeni kwezimpawu zobungozi ezinomthelela udlame olususelwa ebulilini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lolu cwaningo lubheka umthelela wokuhlukunyezwa isikhathi eside kwabahlanganyeli. Abangu-8 ababambe iqhaza baphothula inqubo yokucwaninga futhi bakhethwa besebenzisa indlela enamasampula enenjongo. Okusemqoka ukuthi lolu cwaningo luhlinzeka ngokuqonda kweqiniso lokuthi abesifazane basebenza kanjani futhi banikeze izincazelo kulokho kwabo okuhlukumezeka. Ngakho-ke, lolu cwaningo lufune ukwazisa izincwadi kanye nomphakathi omkhulu ngokuhlangenwe nakho kokuphila kwabesifazane ebudlelwaneni bokuhlukumeza. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of alcohol abuse on intimate partner violence (IPV) committed in Kibera, Kenya. The study is premised on the high prevalence of IPV and alcohol abuse in Kenya, especially among informal settlement dwellers. Kenya is geographically located in Eastern Africa. Kibera is an informal settlement in the country’s capital city, Nairobi, and is plagued by extreme poverty, unemployment and crime. A qualitative approach was implemented and a case study research design employed. Non-probability sampling, using purposive and snowball techniques, was used to select research participants. A total of 32 female victims of IPV made up the sample used in the study. Although the study did not intend to exclude males from the sample, no male victims of IPV could be located. Semi-structured interviews were held individually with each participant. Ethical considerations were actively applied throughout the duration of the study. The raw data collected were thematically analysed. The findings of the study revealed that most of the participants were under 40 years old, married, and had at least one child. Their educational levels were limited, and their occupations as well as their partners’ occupations generated low incomes. Physical and psychological abuse were cited as the most common types of abuse. However, sexual abuse was still prevalent and in some cases was extended to the children. The physical and psychological impacts were identified as the most prevalent effects of IPV. The effects on the children and family were also explored. The study found a strong link between alcohol use and IPV. However, alcohol use and/or abuse could not be identified as the only causal factor of IPV. Interestingly, the participants’ experiences highlighted the patriarchal and cultural milieu significant to Kibera. It was found that the patriarchal nature maintained in Kibera is one of the factors contributing to IPV and its perpetuation. / Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchunguza athari za pombe kwa dhuluma zinazosababishwa na mpenzi unayeshiriki naye ngono (IPV) katika eneo la Kibera nchini Kenya. Utafiti huu unatokana na kiwango cha juu cha hali ya IPV na unywaji wa pombe kupindukia nchini Kenya, hasa kwa wanaoishi kwenye mitaa ya mabanda. Kenya hupatikana katika eneo la kijiografia la Afrika Mashariki. Kibera ni mtaa wa mabanda ambao unapatikana katika mji mkuu wa Nairobi. Kibera inakabiliwa na umasikini uliokithiri, ukosefu wa ajira na uhalifu. Mbinu ya kutathmini ubora ilitumika, na uchunguzi kifani ulitumika. Sampuli isiyokuwa na welekeo wa uwezekano ilitumika, kwa kutumia mbinu za kimakusudi, na kwa kuongeza mambo utafiti unapoendelea wakati wa kuchagua watu wa kushiriki kwenye utafiti. Jumla ya waathiriwa wa IPV 32 wa kike walitumika kama sampuli katika utafiti huu. Ijapokuwa utafiti haukuwa na lengo la kutowashirikisha wanaume, hakuna muathiriwa wa IPV wa kiume alipatikana. Maswali yaliyokuwa na utaratibu maalum yalitumika kwa kila mshiriki. Maadili yalizingatiwa mno wakati wa mchakato mzima wa utafiti. Data iliyokusanywa ilichanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia mada. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalionyesha kuwa wengi wa washiriki waliokuwa na umri usiozidi miaka 40, walikuwa wameolewa na angalau mtoto mmoja. Hawakuwa wamesoma mno, na wao pamoja na wapenzi wao walikuwa na ajira zenye ujira duni. Kupigwa na kuteswa kisaikolojia ni dhuluma zilizojitokeza mno. Hata hivyo, unyanyasaji wa kimapenzi bado ulishuhudiwa na hata wakati mwingine ulifanyiwa watoto. Madhara kwa mwili na ya kisaikolojia yalijitokeza kama athari kuu za IPV. Athari kwa watoto na kwa familia pia zilichunguzwa. Utafiti huu ulionyesha kuwa kuna uhusiano mkuu kati ya matumizi ya pombe kupindukia na IPV. Hata hivyo, matumizi ya pombe/au kulewa kupindukia siyo tu mambo yanayosababisha IPV. Cha kushangaza, hali zilizoelezwa na washiriki zilionyesha umuhimu wa mfumo dume kwa utamaduni wa watu wa Kibera. Iligunduliwa kuwa mfumo wa udume unaoendelea katika eneo la kibera, ni mojawapo wa mambo yanayochangia IPV na kuendelezwa kwake Utafiti huu ulilenga kuchunguza athari za pombe kwa dhuluma zinazosababishwa na mpenzi unayeshiriki naye ngono (IPV) katika eneo la Kibera nchini Kenya. Utafiti huu unatokana na kiwango cha juu cha hali ya IPV na unywaji wa pombe kupindukia nchini Kenya, hasa kwa wanaoishi kwenye mitaa ya mabanda. Kenya hupatikana katika eneo la kijiografia la Afrika Mashariki. Kibera ni mtaa wa mabanda ambao unapatikana katika mji mkuu wa Nairobi. Kibera inakabiliwa na umasikini uliokithiri, ukosefu wa ajira na uhalifu. Mbinu ya kutathmini ubora ilitumika, na uchunguzi kifani ulitumika. Sampuli isiyokuwa na welekeo wa uwezekano ilitumika, kwa kutumia mbinu za kimakusudi, na kwa kuongeza mambo utafiti unapoendelea wakati wa kuchagua watu wa kushiriki kwenye utafiti. Jumla ya waathiriwa wa IPV 32 wa kike walitumika kama sampuli katika utafiti huu. Ijapokuwa utafiti haukuwa na lengo la kutowashirikisha wanaume, hakuna muathiriwa wa IPV wa kiume alipatikana. Maswali yaliyokuwa na utaratibu maalum yalitumika kwa kila mshiriki. Maadili yalizingatiwa mno wakati wa mchakato mzima wa utafiti. Data iliyokusanywa ilichanganuliwa kwa kuzingatia mada. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalionyesha kuwa wengi wa washiriki waliokuwa na umri usiozidi miaka 40, walikuwa wameolewa na angalau mtoto mmoja. Hawakuwa wamesoma mno, na wao pamoja na wapenzi wao walikuwa na ajira zenye ujira duni. Kupigwa na kuteswa kisaikolojia ni dhuluma zilizojitokeza mno. Hata hivyo, unyanyasaji wa kimapenzi bado ulishuhudiwa na hata wakati mwingine ulifanyiwa watoto. Madhara kwa mwili na ya kisaikolojia yalijitokeza kama athari kuu za IPV. Athari kwa watoto na kwa familia pia zilichunguzwa. Utafiti huu ulionyesha kuwa kuna uhusiano mkuu kati ya matumizi ya pombe kupindukia na IPV. Hata hivyo, matumizi ya pombe/au kulewa kupindukia siyo tu mambo yanayosababisha IPV. Cha kushangaza, hali zilizoelezwa na washiriki zilionyesha umuhimu wa mfumo dume kwa utamaduni wa watu wa Kibera. Iligunduliwa kuwa mfumo wa udume unaoendelea katika eneo la kibera, ni mojawapo wa mambo yanayochangia IPV na kuendelezwa kwake Utafiti huu utakuwa na manufaa kwa waathiriwa wa IPV, jamii wanazotoka na watungaji wa sheria za kitaifa bila kusahau jamii ya watafiti wa kisayansi. / Maikemisetso a thutopatlisiso eno e ne e le go tlhotlhomisa tshusumetso ya tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi mo tirisodikgokeng ya balekane ba baratani (IPV) e e diragalang kwa Kibera, Kenya. Thutopatlisiso e theilwe mo tiragalong e e kwa godimo ya IPV le tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi kwa Kenya, bogolo segolo magareng ga banni ba mafelo a baipei. Kenya e fitlhelwa kwa Botlhaba jwa Aforika. Kibera ke lefelo la baipei mo motsemogolong wa naga, Nairobi, mme e aparetswe ke lehuma, botlhokatiro le bosenyi jo bo boitshegang. Go dirisitswe molebo o o lebelelang mabaka mme ga dirisiwa thadiso ya thutopatlisiso e e lebelelang kgetse. Go dirisitswe mokgwa wa go tlhopha sampole moo baagi ba se nang tšhono e e tshwanang ya go nna le seabe le dithekeniki tsa go tlhopha sampole go ya ka maitlhomo le go letla banni-le-seabe ba pele go ngokela ba bangwe go tlhopha banni-le-seabe ba patlisiso. Palogotlhe ya batswasetlhabelo ba basadi ba IPV ba le 32 e nnile sampole e e dirisitsweng mo thutopatlisisong. Le fa thutopatlisiso e ne e sa ikaelela go se akaretse banna mo sampoleng, go ne go se na batswasetlhabelo bape ba IPV ba banna ba ba tlhageletseng. Go nnile le dipotsolotso tse di batlileng go rulagana tse di tshwerweng le monni-le-seabe mongwe le mongwe ka sebele. Go dirisitswe ntlha ya maitsholo a a siameng ka botlhaga mo tsamaong ya thutopatlisiso yotlhe. Data e e kokoantsweng e ne ya lokololwa go ya ka meono. Diphitlhelelo tsa thutopatlisiso di senotse gore bontsi jwa banni-le-seabe ba ne ba le dingwaga tse di kwa tlase ga 40, ba nyetswe mme ba na le bonnye ngwana a le mongwe. Seelo sa bona sa thuto se ne se lekanyeditswe mme ditiro tsa bona gammogo le tsa balekane ba bona di ne di tsenya letseno le le kwa tlase. Tshotlakako ya mo mmeleng le ya maikutlo di tlhagisitswe jaaka mefuta e e tlwaelegileng thata ya tshotlakako. Le gale, tshotlakako ya thobalano e ne e ntse e le teng mme mo mabakeng mangwe e ne e fetela le mo baneng. Ditlamorago tsa mo mmeleng le mo tlhaloganyong di supilwe jaaka ditlamorago tse di bonalang thata tsa IPV. Go lebeletswe le ditlamorago mo baneng le mo lelapeng. Thutopatlisiso e fitlhetse go na le kgolagano e e maatla magareng ga tiriso ya nnotagi le IPV. Le gale, tiriso le/gongwe tiriso e e botlhaswa ya nnotagi ga e a supiwa e le yona fela ntlha e e bakang xi IPV. Se se kgatlhisang ke gore maitemogelo a banni-le-seabe a senotse ka moo tsamaiso e e letlang banna go laola basadi le setso di laolang basadi ka gona mo loagong e leng se se maleba tota kwa Kiberia. Go fitlhetswe gore tsamaiso ya setšhaba e e letlang banna go laola basadi e e tswelediwang kwa Kiberia ke nngwe ya dintlha tse di tshwaelang le go etegetsa IPV. Thutopatlisiso e lebeletse go ungwela batswasetlhabelo ba IPV, baagi ba selegae le lekgotlataolo la bosetšhaba, gammogo le dipatlisiso tsa saense. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)