Community assault and non-community assault among adults in Khayelitsha: A case count and comparison of injury severity

dc.contributor.advisorBlitz, Juliaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorForgus, Sheronen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDelva, Wimen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHauptfleisch, Christineen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGovender, Srinien_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-23T12:29:13Z
dc.date.available2015-07-23T12:29:13Z
dc.date.issued2015-07
dc.descriptionAn article from this thesis is available in the repository at http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97621en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Community Assault (CA) or vigilantism is rife in the township of Khayelitsha. Anecdotal evidence suggests that victims of CA are worse off than other assault cases. However, scientific data on the rate and severity of CA cases is lacking for South Africa. Aims and Objectives: To contribute to CA prevention and management strategies, by estimating the rate of CA among adults in Khayelitsha and comparing the injury severity and survival probability between cases of CA and other assault (non-CA) cases. Methods: We studied 4 health centres in Khayelitsha during July - December 2012. A consecutive case-series was conducted to capture all CA cases during this period and a retrospective folder review was performed on all cases of CA as well as on a control group of non-CA cases to compare injury severity and estimate survival probability. Results: One hundred and forty-eight adult cases of CA occurred (case rate 1.1/1000 person-years) over the study period. The Injury Severity Scores (ISS) in the CA group were significantly higher than in the non-CA group (P<0.001), with a median (Inter Quartile Range) ISS of 3 in CA cases (2-6) and 1 in non-CA cases (1-2). Comparison between the two groups showed that a GCS<15 (20.1% versus 5.4%), referral to the tertiary hospital (33.8% versus 22.6%), and crush syndrome (25.7% versus 0%) were all more common in CA cases. Survival probabilities were similar in both groups: 99.2% in the CA group versus 99.3% in the non-CA group. Conclusion: The rate of CA among adults in Khayelitsha is high, and the severity of injuries sustained by CA victims is substantially higher than in other assault cases.en
dc.format.extent8 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97240
dc.language.isoen_ZAen
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subjectAssault and battery -- Cape Townen_ZA
dc.subjectVigilantes -- Cape Town -- Khayelitshaen_ZA
dc.subjectVictims of violence -- Cape Town -- Khayelitshaen_ZA
dc.subjectUCTD
dc.titleCommunity assault and non-community assault among adults in Khayelitsha: A case count and comparison of injury severityen
dc.typeThesisen
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
forgus_community_2015_thesis.pdf
Size:
172.26 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download PDF
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.95 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: