Sexual abuse accounts for domestic violence cases

By Tarryn Le Chat
06 December 2006

Sexual abuse or rape makes up a staggering 15 percent of domestic violence cases.

Twenty-five percent of these cases include forced sex in front of children according to UCT researcher Lillian Artz.

At least 40 percent of domestic violence survivors have been threatened with death by their abusive partners or ex-partners in almost half these cases.

A study found that four women a day were murdered by their intimate partners. Verbal and psychological abuse is also a strong feature of the mentioned, with verbal abuse at 85 percent and psychological abuse following closely at 83 percent.

The impact of domestic violence is so severe that 86 percent of survivors reported symptoms of psychological stress, trauma and anxiety.