Abstract
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a prevalent social and public health problem affecting a lot of female students in South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and in many other countries. Over the years, many researchers have studied IPV in HEIs worldwide. However, there is paucity of information regarding HEIs female students’ experiences of IPV in South Africa, particularly in the Limpopo province. This study was conducted at the University of Limpopo in Mankweng, within the Capricorn district and at Waterberg TVET College in Mahwelereng with the Waterberg district. This study qualitatively explored HEIs female students’ experiences, coping strategies and help-seeking for IPV whilst pursuing tertiary studies. The research design employed principles of descriptive phenomenology. Using purposive sampling, 17 female students were selected with the help of the student support services personnel in the two institutions that were selected as research sites. Data collection was done through semi-structured one-on-one interviews and thematic data analysis utilized. Female students experienced IPV in various forms such as physical, sexual, emotional and financial violence. The results further indicate that physical violence was identified as the commonly experienced form of IPV by female students. The findings revealed that cultural beliefs and practices that place men as superior to females play a vital role in influencing violence in intimate relationships. To mitigate the effects of IPV, female students developed coping mechanisms. Cognitive rationalisation, physical isolation, religion and spirituality and substance abuse were utilised to cope with the abuse. Female students sought for help from both formal and informal support structures. However, the findings demonstrated that female students preferred informal support structures than formal support structures. Psychosocial support professionals, healthcare practitioners and law enforcement officials need to be aware how their treatment and attitudes towards IPV survivors influence help-seeking. The study also provided an insight into the importance of equipping service providers in HEIs with necessary skills to be able to respond to IPV related cases with required sensitivity. Finally, the results of this study indicated that the key to reducing IPV in HEIs is through social education, dialogues, campaigns to raise awareness and educate both males and females about IPV. Furthermore, the recommendations provided in this study centre on further exploration of the impact of culture on female students’ help-seeking behaviour and how culture and traditional beliefs and practices can be utilised to improve help-seeking behaviour for IPV, especially in HEIs based in rural areas.
Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence; Coping Strategies; Higher Education Institutions; Help-Seeking Behaviour; IPV Experiences; Female Students.