Citation

Abrahams N, Jewkes R. Am. J. Public Health 2005; 95(10): 1811-1816.

Affiliation

South African Medical Research Council.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2003.035006

PMID

16131646

PMCID

PMC1449441

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the impact of witnessing intimate partner violence against their mothers in childhood on men's use of violence in a range of settings in adulthood. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 1368 randomly selected male municipal workers in Cape Town. Results: 23.5% (95% CI 21.2-25.7) of the men reported witnessing their mother being abused. This was associated with involvement in physical conflict in the community (OR 1.72 95% CI 1.29-2.30), at their place of work (OR 1.96 95% CI 1.40-2.74), physical violence against their intimate partner (OR 2.61 95% CI 1.94-2.64) and arrest for possession of an illegal gun (OR 2.86 95% CI 1.29-6.32). Conclusions: The study has shown very strong links between forms of 'publicly' violent behaviour of men and experiences of 'private' violence against mothers witnessed in childhood. Prevention of domestic violence is essential both in its own right and as part of efforts to reduce broader violence and crime in society.