On the record: Professor Rachel Jewkes

Chandré Gould

doi:10.17159/2413-3108/2013/v0i43a828

Abstract

Chandré Gould speaks to Professor Rachel Jewkes, Director of the Gender and Health Unit of the Medical Research Council and a member of the newly formed National Council on Gender-Based Violence. Professor Rachel Jewkes and her colleagues at the Gender and Health Unit have undertaken foundational research on gender-based violence in South Africa for many years; most recently this includes research conducted to assess the levels of rape perpetration in South Africa,and a national study of child and female homicide. The unit has also developed and tested the South African version of the Stepping Stones programme that was shown to be effective in changing men’s sexual risk-taking behaviour and ‘reduced their use of violence’, while also reducing sexually transmitted infections in women.

Highlights

Professor Rachel Jewkes and her colleagues at the Gender and Health Unit have undertaken foundational research on gender-based violence in South Africa for many years; most recently this includes research conducted to assess the levels of rape perpetration in South Africa,[1] and a national study of child and female homicide
Do we know enough about rape and intimate partner violence, both in terms of risk factors for perpetration and in terms of what might work to reduce the high rate of perpetration in the country, to enable us to develop a plan to reduce and prevent gender-based violence (GBV)?
Rachel Jewkes (RJ): Yes, I definitely think we know enough about the risk factors for perpetration

Summary

Introduction

Professor Rachel Jewkes and her colleagues at the Gender and Health Unit have undertaken foundational research on gender-based violence in South Africa for many years; most recently this includes research conducted to assess the levels of rape perpetration in South Africa,[1] and a national study of child and female homicide. There is always a need for further research but the key thing is that we have enough knowledge to understand theoretically what is driving the problem and what our intervention strategies must address.

Results

Conclusion