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Street children in Mafikeng, North-West Province: A qualitative study of social experiences

Journal of Social Development in Africa

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Title Street children in Mafikeng, North-West Province: A qualitative study of social experiences
 
Creator Idemudia, ES
Kgokong, K
Kolobe, P
 
Subject Street children, social experiences, Mafikeng, Africa, vulnerable, psychological intervention
 
Description The general perception, on the part of South African society, is that street children are a major social menace. Yet the reality is that, street children are a vulnerable group that suffer both psychological and physical violence including sexual abuse. This qualitative study investigated the social experiences of street children in Mafikeng, North-West Province in South Africa. Data were collected using focus group discussions made up of a total of 20 participants aged 10-19 years, and selected using convenience sampling. Three themes were extracted using the consensual qualitative method and constant comparison to establish credibility and  trustworthiness. The results of the study revealed three major themes (i.e. reasons for abandoning home; life in the streets, and the desire to go  back home), and three sub-themes (risks and challenges encountered, regrets, and the desire for rehabilitation and schooling). Recommendations included the need for psychological interventions among this group, the need further for research, and the need to use probability sampling techniques in future studies, as this might provide a more comprehensive picture of the situation.Keywords: Street children, social experiences, Mafikeng, Africa, vulnerable, psychological intervention
 
Publisher School of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe
 
Contributor
 
Date 2013-07-04
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsda/article/view/90255
10.4314/jsda.v28i1.
 
Source Journal of Social Development in Africa; Vol 28, No 1 (2013); 161-186
1012-1080
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsda/article/view/90255/79681
 
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