Abstract
BACKGROUND The Problem There is evidence of gang violence in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia, and the prevalence of gangs is particularly well documented throughout Central and South America (Decker & Pyrooz, 2010; Gatti et al., 2011). Official estimates of gang membership in Central America estimate approximately 69,000 members, while academic estimates believe this figure to be closer to 200,000 (UNODC, 2007). Some estimates are as high as 500,000 gang members in the region including South America and the Caribbean, and gangs have been identified as “the primary threat to regional stability and security” (Muggah & Aguirre, 2013). While reporting and recording issues make it difficult to estimate rates of gang violence, the homicide rate in Colombia, Brazil, El Salvador and Guatemala are substantially higher than those of European and North American countries (Decker & Pyrooz, 2010; UNODC, 2007). Gangs are also active in South Africa, with an estimate of 100,000 members in Western Cape alone (Reckson & Becker, cited in Decker & Pyrooz, 2010); however, to date, there is limited research examining gangs in Africa and Asia...
Highlights
The ProblemThere is evidence of gang violence in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia, and the prevalence of gangs is well documented throughout Central and South America (Decker & Pyrooz, 2010; Gatti et al, 2011)
This review aims to inform the academic literature on the predictive factors associated with youth gang membership, but will provide a valuable resource for both policy makers and practitioners to assist in designing appropriate preventive interventions for implementation
We extend the age range to include studies where the participants are aged between 10 and 29, in part because formal definitions of youth vary across countries, and in part to ensure that the age range is broad enough to ensure that studies that retrospectively examine gang membership within a short timeframe are not excluded
Summary
There is evidence of gang violence in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia, and the prevalence of gangs is well documented throughout Central and South America (Decker & Pyrooz, 2010; Gatti et al, 2011). Extensive research (primarily conducted in high-income countries) has focused on identifying risk and protective factors which may alter the likelihood of youth becoming involved in violent activity These have been categorised into individual, peer group, family, school, school, and community factors (Decker et al, 2013; Hawkins et al, 2000; Howell, 2012; Howell & Egley, 2005; Katz & Fox, 2010; Klein & Maxson, 2006; O’Brien et al, 2013; Tobin, 2008). Howell and Egley’s logic model of gang membership (2005) begins with preschool factors, where structural disadvantage and lack of social capital at the community level, combined with family factors such as low human capital, family conflict and poor parenting, and child level risk factors such as aggressive and impulsive temperament, are theorised to lead to conduct disorders at the pre-school stage These aggressive and disruptive behaviours may lead to rejection by pro-social peers, which may increase the likelihood of early delinquent behaviour and decreased school performance. We hope to ensure future prevention efforts are focused on targeting the identified predictors of youth gang membership
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