Modified Delphi study to determine optimal data elements for inclusion in a pilot violence and injury observatory in Cape Town, South Africa

INTRODUCTION: Violence and injury observatories (VIOs) are primarily a tool to aid safety and security stakeholders within both governments and non-governmental organisations to develop interventions focused on violence prevention and related to citizen safety issues. VIOs are centres that focus on collating and integrating violence-related injury data sources to monitor, evaluate, and study the progression of violence and crime in a targeted region. In preparation for implementing a pilot VIO in Cape Town, we sought to determine the optimal indicators, datasets and research priorities for inclusion. METHODS: The study employed a two-round Delphi study conducted via email. The Delphi panel constituted 21 participants. This included, but was not limited, to senior members of staff in the Provincial Health Services in Emergency Medicine and Disaster Medicine, representatives from relevant data stakeholders and non-government actors working in violence reduction. RESULTS: Fourteen violence-related indicators and 12 violence-related datasets reached consensus. Additionally, research priorities were identified within 16 research themes across five different types of violence: elder abuse, youth violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and armed violence. Finally, four data-sharing questions raised by panellists after round one were answered by the Delphi panel following the second round. DISCUSSION: This study provides a research priority framework for violence and injury prevention work within South Africa. These expert-identified violence and injury indicators and datasets are context-appropriate and may serve to guide the development of additional VIOs within the region.