Prevalence of Domestic Violence Reported by a Sample of South African Undergraduates

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine reports of wife battery by 81 male and 138 female Xhosa-speaking undergraduates in Transkei, South Africa among neighbours and relatives. Only 32 of 219 subjects admitted having witnessed such behaviour by their parents; 43 indicated that they approved wife battery; and 94 did not consider it a matter to be brought to the attention of police. For 136 it was not a sufficient reason for seeking divorce.