New Research Brief: Understanding Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescent and Young Mothers

The Accelerate Research Hub is pleased to share a new research brief developed by Natalie Davidson, Jane Kelly, and Elona Toska as part of a regional initiative¹ to strengthen evidence on gender-based violence (GBV) in Southern Africa.

Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health concern in South Africa, with high rates among girls aged 10–19 and serious consequences for young mothers. Intimate partner violence (IPV) risk among women is linked to factors such as low self-esteem, limited education and income, substance use, and social isolation, with unplanned pregnancy as a key modifiable driver. For adolescent and young mothers, these risks are often intensified: IPV not only threatens their safety but is also strongly associated with poor mental health outcomes, including postpartum depression and other common mental disorders.

This brief examines the risk and protective factors shaping intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescent and young mothers, who face overlapping vulnerabilities such as mental health struggles, HIV risk, and social disadvantage. Using baseline data from the HEY BABY longitudinal study, researchers analysed the experiences of 1,045 adolescent and young mothers aged 10–24 years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Findings from this brief show that adolescent and young mothers are at a high risk of experiencing IPV as well as other types of familial, interpersonal, and community violence. Exposure to community violence, domestic violence, and emotional abuse at home increases adolescent and young mothers’ vulnerability to IPV, often in relationships characterised by controlling behaviour. Older age is linked to higher IPV risk, while greater self-efficacy appears to have a protective effect.

More work is needed to understand these compounding forms of violence and the causal pathways through which these effects occur. The findings highlight the need for integrated interventions that address violence against women and children simultaneously, helping to improve the safety and well-being of young mothers and their children.

Get the brief here.

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¹The Sexual Violence Research Initiative, with support from GIZ, launched a special funding window enabling former SVRI Grant Partners to conduct six-month research projects on gender-based violence and strengthen evidence in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Find out more here.