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Teenage inequality rife after apartheid: Study

Despite twenty years of democracy, inequalities still exist between teenagers of different race groups in Johannesburg, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

The survey found major differences in the living conditions of black, white, coloured and Indian/Asian teenagers, despite reforms that had been implemented since apartheid ended in 1994.

These included "neighbourhood, school and household inequalities".

The study was conducted by researchers of the Medical Research Council (MRC), the University of the Witwatersrand Developmental Pathway for Health Research Unit (DPHRU), and Loughborough University's Centre for Global Health and Human Development in the UK.

It analysed household, school and neighbourhood socioeconomic data from 2000 participants from birth to twenty plus.

"Household data were collected from birth and so it is possible to look at how household wealth has changed throughout childhood and adolescence in the cohort," Wits spokeswoman Vivienne Rowland said in a statement.

"Researchers assessed household, neighbourhood and school socioeconomic environments reported by adolescents to determine whether geographic, demographic and population group differences exist."

According to the study, starting with less wealth, having a mother with low levels of education, and being a black teenager compared to being a white teenager, were the three strongest predictors of staying poor throughout childhood and adolescence at the household level relative to other participants.

"Black African and coloured adolescents also reported living in more deprived neighbourhoods and studying in less favourable school environments compared to white participants," said Rowland.

In regards to black teenagers, the study found that those living in Soweto reported "more deprived economic and school environments," than those living in metropolitan areas within Johannesburg.

"We wanted to get adolescents' perceptions of their environments as they are key stakeholders in the community and as such, they contribute to creating a favourable environment that ensures adequate development for themselves and for future generations," Dr Paula Griffiths from the MRC/Wits DPHRU and Loughborough University's Centre for Global Health and Human Development said in a statement.

The study found that inequality and violence remained a challenge and a priority in the area of Johannesburg and Soweto, despite policies targeted at reducing inequalities, said Rebecca Pradeilles, also from the MRC/Wits DPHRU and Loughborough University's Centre for Global Health and Human Development.

"Taken together the findings from this research suggest that targeting high quality education through equal quality schools to the poorest neighbourhoods has excellent potential to be a long term successful strategy for reducing inequality for this and future generations of South Africans," said Pradeilles.

The study was the first of its kind in assessing inequality in South Africa, throughout the whole childhood period and to incorporate adolescents' perceptions of their environments.

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