19 August - Gender - Alcohol Use and Its Role in Female Homicides in the Western Cape

In today’s show, we heard from Shanaaz Mathews – From the Gender and Health Research Unit at the Medical Research Center. The Medical Research Council’s Gender and Health Research Unit conducted a study on the role of alcohol use on female homicide cases in the Western Cape. The study was conducted amongst female homicide victims, 14 years and older, who were admitted to a mortuary within a year. Their blood alcohol consumption levels (BAC), below legal alcohol limit and above legal alcohol limit for driving in South Africa, were measured at their time of death. It is reported that South Africa has one of the highest levels of absolute alcohol consumption per drinker in the world with 20.1liters per adult per year. Coincidently, South Africa has one of the highest levels of violent crimes in the world, with the leading cause of death being interpersonal violence. Shanaaz explained more about the results. To read more about the results go to www.mrc.ac.za