Most children exposed to violence: Study
Updated | By Bernadette Wolhuter
Disturbing new research indicates that nearly all children in some communities are exposed to violence.
The University of the Witwatersrand 'Birth to Twenty Plus Study' tracked the development of almost 2,000 Soweto children's development over a period of 27 years.
It emerged that 99-percent of the children had been exposed to different forms of violence.
The study assessed a cohort of children born in 1990 on 21 different occasions throughout their lives in terms of exposure to:
* Violence in their communities, in their schools and at home;
* Peer violence and
* Being a victim of non-sexual and sexual violence.
The report also found that two-thirds of parents reported regularly beating their 4 to 5-year-olds with sticks, belts, straps and shoes.
More than 80-percent of children in their primary school years and more than 90-percent during their secondary school years reported being victims of violence at home, at school, in their communities or in their intimate relationships.
A third of children reported experiencing all forms of violence studied.
NOW READ: KZN Education probing school 'scissor attack'
KwaZulu-Natal violence monitor, Mary de Haas agrees that most children in the country - and in KwaZulu-Natal - are exposed to violence. She says while this is true across the board, children in poorer areas are especially susceptible.
It emerged that 99-percent of the children had been exposed to different forms of violence.
The study assessed a cohort of children born in 1990 on 21 different occasions throughout their lives in terms of exposure to:
* Violence in their communities, in their schools and at home;
* Peer violence and
* Being a victim of non-sexual and sexual violence.
The report also found that two-thirds of parents reported regularly beating their 4 to 5-year-olds with sticks, belts, straps and shoes.
More than 80-percent of children in their primary school years and more than 90-percent during their secondary school years reported being victims of violence at home, at school, in their communities or in their intimate relationships.
A third of children reported experiencing all forms of violence studied.
NOW READ: KZN Education probing school 'scissor attack'
KwaZulu-Natal violence monitor, Mary de Haas agrees that most children in the country - and in KwaZulu-Natal - are exposed to violence. She says while this is true across the board, children in poorer areas are especially susceptible.
De Haas believes the the root of the problem can be traced back to an often unstable family life in South Africa.
She also says violence is cyclical in nature and that children who grow up in violent families or communities are often more prone to perpetuate it.
Former Childline head, and now a consultant on child rights and child protection, Joan van Niekerk says some provinces are far more affected by violence than others.
Van Niekerk says that violence on television cannot be discounted and that if this were included in the study we would see an even higher percentage of children exposed to violence.
ALSO READ: Seminar on violence in KZN schools
“What is very concerning to me is the extent to which children are exposed and the extent to which we are such a violent society,” she said.
Van Niekerk says that violence on television cannot be discounted and that if this were included in the study we would see an even higher percentage of children exposed to violence.
ALSO READ: Seminar on violence in KZN schools
“What is very concerning to me is the extent to which children are exposed and the extent to which we are such a violent society,” she said.
Van Niekerk says the impact of violence is more profound the younger the child.
She says some research also indicates that domestic violence in the home can affect a child’s brain development.
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