A Retrospective Descriptive Study on the Characteristics of Familicides in eSwatini
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37293/sapientiae112.08Keywords:
Africa, domestic violence, eSwatini, familicide, gender-related murderAbstract
Familicide, a murder involving a current or former partner and at least one biological or stepchild, is a devastating global phenomenon that particularly impacts communities through its gendered nature. This study examined the characteristics of familicide cases in eSwatini to identify contributing factors and inform prevention strategies for this understudied form of gender-based violence in the African context. A descriptive retrospective design was employed, utilizing inductive content analysis of 24 familicide cases identified through national newspaper archives and court records from 2009 to June 2024. The 24 cases involved 59 victims (35 children and 24 adults). Male perpetrators accounted for 96% of cases, with 79% being biological fathers, averaging 29.5 years old. Most incidents occurred in domestic settings with documented histories of domestic violence. Among child victims (average age 4.1 years), 57% died, including the youngest aged two weeks. Of adult victims, 67% survived. Key contributing factors included a woman attempting to end the relationship (38% of cases), suspected infidelity (21%), refusal to reconcile (17%), and court-mandated child support (8%). Unlike global settings where firearms predominate, perpetrators primarily used readily available implements: hacking tools (9 cases), stabbing instruments (8 cases), arson (7 cases), and pesticides (6 cases). Only 21% involved familicide-suicide, all using pesticides. Familicide in eSwatini exhibits both universal patterns (male perpetration, domestic violence history) and culturally specific factors (threats to social dignity, gender-asymmetric infidelity norms). Prevention strategies require developing risk assessment tools merging universal and culturally specific risk factors, strengthening the capacity of law enforcement and traditional structures to address domestic violence, and regulating pesticide acquisition. A complex interplay of infrastructure and resource limitations significantly influences familicide outcomes, aspects potentially overlooked in research from developed regions.
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