Children's Perceptions of Personal Safety in a High-Risk Community in South Africa: Implications for Prevention

This article presents the findings of a qualitative study that explored and described children's perceptions of personal safety in a high-risk community in South Africa. Research was carried out among children aged 11 to 12 years who attended primary schools in this community. This allowed children's voices to be heard regarding their understanding of personal safety. Purposive sampling was used to recruit children, and a mind map activity was used in four focus group discussions with 32 participants to explore their understanding of personal safety. The data collected during the focus group discussions was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that children have limited knowledge of personal safety, recommending the need for more education to empower children with appropriate knowledge and safety skills.