HEY BABY Strengthens Support Pathways for Adolescent Mothers

A research initiative led by the Centre for Social Science Research is helping to improve how adolescent mothers are identified and connected to essential health and social services through a structured referral system developed as part of the Hey Baby project.

Associate Professor Elona Toska, an adolescent health researcher at UCT’s Centre for Social Science Research, presented the findings at the 3rd African Workshop on Women and HIV in Cape Town from 12–13 March. Her presentation, “From research to reality: Outcomes and insights from a multi-pronged referral system for adolescent mothers living with and affected by HIV in South Africa,” drew on the Help empower youth brought up in adversity with their babies and young children (Hey Baby) study, a joint project between UCT and the University of Oxford currently underway in the Eastern Cape.

Working with more than 1,000 adolescent mothers and their children in the Eastern Cape, the research team examined the intersecting challenges young mothers face, including HIV exposure, mental health needs, food insecurity, and barriers to continuing education.

Findings show that adolescent mothers’ support needs change over time, and that the timing and acceptability of referrals play a crucial role in whether services are accessed. The research also highlights the protective role of education, with school-going adolescent mothers less likely to require referrals.

Credit: Adapted from an original article published by UCT News, 16 March 2026.