"Through Our Eyes": Learner Perspectives from the Western Cape Planet Youth Survey on Wellbeing, Substance Use, and Safety
1
Violence Prevention Unit, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa
2
Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Metro Health Services, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2368
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Title: Learner Perspectives on Risk and Protective Factors in Adolescent Violence and Substance Use: Insights from the Western Cape Planet Youth Survey
BACKGROUND:
Adolescent violence and substance use remain critical public health concerns in South Africa, driven by multiple intersecting risk factors across family, peer, school, and community environments. In 2025, the Western Cape implemented the Planet Youth model, a globally recognized prevention framework, to gather large-scale, learner-informed data to guide early intervention and policy.
OBJECTIVES:
To identify key protective and risk factors for adolescent substance use and violence from the perspective of learners, and to explore how these factors operate across ecological levels in shaping health outcomes.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional, population-level survey was conducted among 47813 Grade 8 and 9 learners from 123 schools across 12 communities. The anonymous, self-administered online questionnaire assessed substance use, exposure to violence, mental health, and perceived support across family, school, peer, and community domains. Bivariate and sex-stratified analyses were applied.
RESULTS:
With 89% response rate, it was shown that clear parental rules, weekend time with caregivers, and strong adult/peer support at school were significantly protective. Learners spending weekends with caregivers had lower 30-day use of alcohol (13% vs. 20%), hookah (18% vs. 26%), and dagga (9% vs. 16%). Conversely, poor school connectedness, low parental monitoring, and peer substance use were consistently linked to higher rates of substance use and violence exposure. Though 78% reported good mental health, many also described stressors related to safety, peer pressure, and community violence.
CONCLUSIONS:
Learner-reported data highlight the cumulative power of protective factors across environments. Findings support the implementation of multilevel, community-anchored prevention strategies. The Planet Youth model offers actionable insights to co-create safer, more supportive environments for youth in South Africa and globally.
Title: Learner Perspectives on Risk and Protective Factors in Adolescent Violence and Substance Use: Insights from the Western Cape Planet Youth Survey
BACKGROUND:
Adolescent violence and substance use remain critical public health concerns in South Africa, driven by multiple intersecting risk factors across family, peer, school, and community environments. In 2025, the Western Cape implemented the Planet Youth model, a globally recognized prevention framework, to gather large-scale, learner-informed data to guide early intervention and policy.
OBJECTIVES:
To identify key protective and risk factors for adolescent substance use and violence from the perspective of learners, and to explore how these factors operate across ecological levels in shaping health outcomes.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional, population-level survey was conducted among 47813 Grade 8 and 9 learners from 123 schools across 12 communities. The anonymous, self-administered online questionnaire assessed substance use, exposure to violence, mental health, and perceived support across family, school, peer, and community domains. Bivariate and sex-stratified analyses were applied.
RESULTS:
With 89% response rate, it was shown that clear parental rules, weekend time with caregivers, and strong adult/peer support at school were significantly protective. Learners spending weekends with caregivers had lower 30-day use of alcohol (13% vs. 20%), hookah (18% vs. 26%), and dagga (9% vs. 16%). Conversely, poor school connectedness, low parental monitoring, and peer substance use were consistently linked to higher rates of substance use and violence exposure. Though 78% reported good mental health, many also described stressors related to safety, peer pressure, and community violence.
CONCLUSIONS:
Learner-reported data highlight the cumulative power of protective factors across environments. Findings support the implementation of multilevel, community-anchored prevention strategies. The Planet Youth model offers actionable insights to co-create safer, more supportive environments for youth in South Africa and globally.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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