Table 1 Neighbourhood and individual characteristics of sample as assessed at the start of the intervention (N = 729)

 Total number of dwellings, i.e. brick and shack structures

21,877

  Informal dwellings/shacks

11,572 (53%)

  Houses:shebeen ratio

66:1

 Informal bar/Shebeen (average, per neighbourhood)

13, SD 4.3

 Day Care Centre/Creches (average, per neighbourhood)

2, SD 1.5

 Spaza Shops (average, per neighbourhood)

6, SD 3.0

 Age, mean (SD)

22.5 (2.8)

 Highest education level, mean (SD)

10.4 (1.5)

 Married

45 (6.2%)

 Income above 500 Rand

353 (48.4%)

 Formal housing

334 (63.4%)

  Access to electricity

523 (99.2%)

  Access to water source (home)

284 (53.9%)

  Access to toilet (on premises)

406 (77.0%)

  Main source of fuel for cooking (electric)

467 (88.6%)

 Living with Parents

479 (65.7%)

 Living with Partners

45 (6.2%)

 Chronic Illness

  Alcoholism

110 (67.1%)

  HIV

25 (15.2%)

 Depression Score, mean (SD)

15.9 (9.8)

 Depressed Case, score ≥ 16

320 (43.9%)

 Perceived stress scale, mean (SD)

14.4 (7.4)

 Stress Case, score ≥ 13

214 (59.0%)

 Number of close friends, mean (SD)

2.6 (1.7)

  Number of arrests lifetime, mean (SD)

0.7 (1.3)

  Number of prison sentences lifetime, mean (SD)

0.3 (0.6)

  Gang membership

168 (23.0%)

 Aggregate/gang variable, mean (SD)

2.5 (1.8)

 Group violence

425 (58.3%)

 Group violence involvement

311 (42.7%)

  Alcohol use

529 (72.6%)

  Drink 6 or more (Daily)

7 (1.2%)

  Problematic Drinker

116 (15.9%)

  Marjiuana / Dagga

427 (75.7%)

  Mandrax

121 (57.1%)

  Methamephetamine / Tik

132 (18.1%)

 Aggregate substance score, mean (SD)

2.8 (2.0)