Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: Stability of measures in quantitative social science research is crucial to understand. There is very little evidence on the stability of violence against women and girls measures in the global South.Objective: To assess the test-retest stability of violence against women and girls measures, amongst young (18–30) people in South Africa.Methods: Data were collected from 124 women and 112 men at zero weeks (time 1) and two weeks (time 2), who resided in urban informal settlements in South Africa. Prevalence of each construct was assessed using chi-square contingency tables. Stability of self-report over time was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa. Bivariate logistic regression assessed factors associated with changing responses between time 1 and time 2.Results: At group level prevalence of all measures showed no significant differences. Stability of self-report: kappas for past year physical IPV were both k0.20, for ever physical IPV (women k0.58; men k0.50). Sexual IPV in past 12m (women k0.44; men k0.18), and for ever sexual IPV (women k0.56; men k0.46). Kappas for men’s perpetration of non-partner sexual violence was k0.29 for past 12m and k0.38 ever. In bivariate regression, completion of secondary education was associated with a reduced odds of changing responses over the time-period for sexual IPV ever women (OR0.16, 0.02–1.04), sexual IPV past 12 months men (OR 0.09, 0.01–0.56), past 12 month non-partner sexual violence men (OR0.19, 0.02–1.41) and lifetime non-partner sexual violence (OR0.23, 0.04–1.19). Being male, compared to being female, was associated with an increased likelihood of changing responses for past 12 month sexual IPV (OR2.10, 1.08–4.09).Conclusions: Prevalence estimates of violence against women measures are stable at group level, but stability of self-reported measures remains a concern. Individual statistical analyses must be treated with caution. Future studies are required to develop further understandings of stability of measures over time.
Highlights
Stability of measures in quantitative social science research is crucial to understand
Reported prevalence at time 1 and time 2 was consistent for the majority of measures at the group level
Women were not asked about their experience of non-partner sexual violence and as such we cannot assess the extent to which men reported similar prevalence data to women. This is one of the few studies that has sought to understand the stability of violence against women (VAW) measures in South Africa
Summary
Stability of measures in quantitative social science research is crucial to understand. There is very little evidence on the stability of violence against women and girls measures in the global South. Objective: To assess the test-retest stability of violence against women and girls measures, amongst young (18–30) people in South Africa. Studies in South Africa show men’s perpetration of VAW, whether IPV or non-partner sexual violence is incredibly high [5]. All these studies on VAW rely on quantitative data generated through self-reported measures, as is the case for all quantitative behavioural research. Studies highlight issues of recall bias, whereby people may forget exactly when events happen, or may choose to report incorrect data whether because of fear of reporting (if activities are illegal) or social desirability [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
