title: Homicide-suicide in Durban, South Africa.
abstract: This study investigated homicide-suicide in Durban, South Africa, for the years 2000 to 2001. The incidence was 0.89 per 100,000, higher than the international average. A majority of perpetrators (91%) and victims (87%) were Black African, proportional to their representation in the population. Perpetrators were typically men (in 95% of cases), older than, and intimate partners (in 75% of cases) of the female victims (in 100% of cases). Average ages of perpetrators and victims were 32 and 27, respectively. The security sector was overrepresented as an employment category for perpetrators. A firearm was used in 87% of the homicides and 80% of the suicides. The individuals involved in homicide-suicides in Durban are similar to homicide-suicide perpetrators and victims in industrialized countries. The fact that homicide-suicides in South Africa, as in most countries, involve almost exclusively men killing female intimates confirms the importance of examining and challenging social norms enabling male violence against women.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wassenaar
authors.forename: Silvia Sara
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Canetto
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pillay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006708:Homicide / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013405:Suicide / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult