TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiences and Impact of Domestic Violence on Children
T2 - A Qualitative Study in the City of Tshwane, South Africa
AU - Mokwena, Kebogile Elizabeth
AU - Ramushu, Eunice Mamahlagare
AU - Msizi Ngema, Vukile
AU - Ramatsui, Oria
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Unisa Press 2024.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - South Africa has a high prevalence of domestic violence, and its impact is commonly limited to the partner, and not adequate attention is paid to its consequences on the children who experience such violence in their home. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of children who are raised in homes where there is domestic violence. The participants were 23 male and female children aged 12 to 16 years who were referred to one of the centres of Families South Africa (FAMSA) in the City of Tshwane because of domestic violence in their homes. A descriptive qualitative design, using in-depth interviews, was employed to collect data and NVivo version 12 was used to analyse the data. Three (3) major themes emerged from the data, these being the impact of domestic violence on children, the long-term social impacts of domestic violence, and coping strategies used by the participants to survive domestic violence. Additionally, seven (7) sub-themes emerged from the three major themes. The findings imply the need to acknowledge that children are direct victims of domestic violence that occurs between their parents. It is recommended that the school health programme in South Africa integrate screening for children who witness domestic violence.
AB - South Africa has a high prevalence of domestic violence, and its impact is commonly limited to the partner, and not adequate attention is paid to its consequences on the children who experience such violence in their home. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of children who are raised in homes where there is domestic violence. The participants were 23 male and female children aged 12 to 16 years who were referred to one of the centres of Families South Africa (FAMSA) in the City of Tshwane because of domestic violence in their homes. A descriptive qualitative design, using in-depth interviews, was employed to collect data and NVivo version 12 was used to analyse the data. Three (3) major themes emerged from the data, these being the impact of domestic violence on children, the long-term social impacts of domestic violence, and coping strategies used by the participants to survive domestic violence. Additionally, seven (7) sub-themes emerged from the three major themes. The findings imply the need to acknowledge that children are direct victims of domestic violence that occurs between their parents. It is recommended that the school health programme in South Africa integrate screening for children who witness domestic violence.
KW - children
KW - domestic violence
KW - perpetrators
KW - victims
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211978711&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.25159/2708-9355/14049
DO - 10.25159/2708-9355/14049
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85211978711
SN - 2520-0097
VL - 36
JO - Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development
JF - Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development
IS - 3
M1 - 14049
ER -