Community v. non-community assault among adults in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, South Africa : a case count and comparison of injury severity
Date
2014-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health & Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
Background. Community assault (CA) or vigilantism is widespread in the township of Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa (SA).
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 are lacking for SA.
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 four healthcare centres in Khayelitsha during July - December 2012. A consecutive case series was conducted to
capture all CA cases during this period. A retrospective folder review was performed on all cases of CA and on a control group of non-CA
cases to compare injury severity and estimate survival probability.
Results. A total of 148 adult cases of CA occurred (case rate 1.1/1 000 person-years) over the study period. The Injury Severity Scores (ISSs)
in the CA group were significantly higher than in the non-CA group (p<0.001), with a median (interquartile range) ISS of 3 (2 - 6) in CA
cases v. 1 (1 - 2) in non-CA cases. Comparison between the CA v. non-CA groups showed that a Glasgow Coma Scale <15 (20.1% v. 5.4%,
respectively), referral to the tertiary hospital (33.8% v. 22.6%, respectively), and crush syndrome (25.7% v. 0.0%, respectively) were all more
common in CA cases. Survival probabilities were similar in both groups (CA v. non-CA 99.2% v. 99.3%, respectively).
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.
Description
CITATION: Forgus, S. et al. 2014. Community v. non-community assault among adults in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, South Africa: A case count and comparison of injury severity. S Afr Med J, 104(4):299-301, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.7615.
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
See also the thesis in the repository at http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97240
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
See also the thesis in the repository at http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97240
Keywords
Vigilantes -- South Africa -- Cape Town, Assault and battery -- South Africa -- Cape Town, Wounds and injuries -- South Africa -- Cape Town
Citation
Forgus, S. et al. 2014. Community v. non-community assault among adults in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, South Africa: A case count and comparison of injury severity. S Afr Med J, 104(4):299-301, doi:10.7196/SAMJ.7615.