The role of alcohol restriction on femicide in South Africa: Evidence from the COVID-19 epidemic
Abrahams, N Mhlongo, S Dekel, B Ketelo, A Lombard, C Shai, N Ramsoomar, L Mathews, S Labuschagne, G Matzopoulos, R
Abrahams, N
Mhlongo, S
Dekel, B
Ketelo, A
Lombard, C
Shai, N
Ramsoomar, L
Mathews, S
Labuschagne, G
Matzopoulos, R
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Abstract
Introduction Alcohol is a key risk factor for femicide (killing of women and girls), the most extreme and severe form of gender-based violence (GBV). The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between different types of femicides and alcohol, over a period of alcohol prohibition during the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in South Africa.
Study Methods : A retrospective analysis of women and girls 14 years and older killed (femicides) between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 were identified from a proportionate random sample of mortuaries. We used poison regression models and incidence rate ratios (IRR) to compare the number of cases of intimate partner femicides (IPF) or non-intimate partner femicides (NIFP) across periods when alcohol sales were completely or partially banned with a period with no restrictions. We also calculated the Age-Standardised Rates (ASR) for overall femicides, IPF and NIPF and used incidence rate Ratios (IRR) to compare the two studies.
Results: There was a 63% decrease among all femicides (IRR=0.37: 95%CI: 0.30-0.47) during the complete alcohol ban period compared to periods of no restrictions with a similar statistical significant decline for IPF (IRR=0.39: 95%CI: 0.28-0.53)) and NIPF (IRR=0.39: 95%CI: 0.27-0.55). This pattern is non-existent for the corresponding calendar periods of the 2017 study. Despite the decline during specific lock down periods, an overall significant increase in the ASR for intimate partner femicide was found in 202/21 compared to 2017 (IRR=1.12: 95%CI: 100-1.26) while the ASRs for all femicide (IRR=0.95: 95%CI: 0.88-1.03) and non-intimate partner femicide (IRR= 0.98: 95% CI: 0.86-1.11) were similar across the two surveys.
Conclusion: The unintended social experiment during COVID-19 lockdown has shown the definitive role of alcohol on femicide in South Africa. We have shown a clear trend of decrease in all forms of femicides during the period of complete alcohol prohibition compared to partial or no ban periods. This analysis confirms the role of alcohol in women and girl’s vulnerability to GBV and the importance of addressing alcohol in prevention interventions.
Description
49th Annual Symposium of the Kettil Bruun Society (KBS) for Social and Epidemiological Research on Alcohol held in Western Australia from 27-31 May 2024.
Date
2024-05-25