School Violence and Adolescent Mental Health in South Africa: Implications for School Health Programs

This study examines the perceptions of high-school adolescents about gang violence in a periurban community near Cape Town and the implications for school health in South Africa. Using the qualitative focus group discussion (FGD) guide, data were collected from 60 high-school adolescents, between 10 and 20 years of age. Trained moderators conducted nine FGDs with small groups of six to eight students. The constant comparative ethnographic method was used to analyze the data. Results indicate that gang violence is very common among high-school adolescents living on the Cape Flat. Gangs, perceived by many as part of the rite of passage among adolescents, are a major threat to the public health, mental well-being, general welfare, happiness, and development of high-school populations on the Cape Flat. Gang activity interlock with many other social problems, including drug and alcohol abuse, school unrest and violence, and the increasing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV and AIDS. These findings suggest an urgent need for concerted efforts to develop mechanism to protect school pupils from gangs and develop healthier social alternatives to gang-related activites. Ties among government, school, parents, and community education and participation are urgently necessary to implement a school-based approach to adolescent health promotion.