The Situational Context of Adolescent Homicide Victimization in Johannesburg, South Africa
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Authors
Swart, Lu-Anne
Seedat, Mohamed
Nel, Juan A
Issue Date
2018-02-01
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
homicide , adolescents , situational context , victim characteristics , offender characteristics , South Africa , cluster analysis
Alternative Title
Abstract
Although studies have described the incidence and epidemiology of adolescent homicide victimization in South Africa, little is known about the situational contexts in which they occur. This study aimed to describe the victim, offender, and event characteristics of adolescent homicide and to generate a typology based on the particular types of situational contexts associated with adolescent homicide in South Africa. Data on homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) that occurred in Johannesburg (South Africa) during the period 2001-2007 were obtained from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and police case records. Of the 195 cases available for analysis, 81% of the victims were male. Most of the offenders were male (90%), comprising of strangers (42%) and friends/acquaintances (37%). Arguments (33%) were the most common precipitating circumstances, followed by revenge (11%), robbery (11%), and acts of vigilantism/retribution for a crime (8%). Through the use of cluster analysis, the study identified three categories of adolescent homicide: (a) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event, (b) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument, and (c) female victims killed by male offenders. The results can serve to inform the development of tailored and focused strategies for the prevention of adolescent homicide.
Description
Citation
Swart, L-A., Seedat, M., & Nel, J.A. (2018). The situational context of adolescent homicide victimisation in Johannesburg, South Africa. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(4), 637-661. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515613342
Publisher
SAGE journals
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
1552-6518