Helping mothers
Study aims to find out how very young moms cope
ASTUDY which is aimed at determining how very young mothers are coping and what their challenges are took its turn in Breidbach on Tuesday, when a team of Mzantsi Wakho officials visited the area.
King William’s Town-based project manager Nokubonga Mjo said the study was called “Hey Baby” and started in March this year. It is focusing on young mothers from the age of 10 to 19, living in the Buffalo City metropolitan area, she said.
“Our team of trained researchers use a questionnaire to retrieve information and, on completion of the two-hour study, they hand over a gift with certificate of participation to the mother,” Mjo said.
They are working closely with clinics and schools for information about the young mothers and have also turned to community leaders who guide them to the whereabouts of those identified.
“We have built strong relationships with community leaders and today, like all previous years, were assisted by the generous Desmond Coetzee in Breidbach,” Mjo said.
“We also issued Coetzee a certificate in recognition of the invaluable support of our research studies and for helping our participants.
“We would like to thank him for his ongoing partnership in a study to improve access to health services for adolescents and youth in the country,” she said.
Researchers Deneo Sephula and Chuyiswa Kama both enjoyed conducting the study in the Breidbach area.
“Coetzee made us feel at home after introducing us to the young mothers and they all gave us their full cooperation,” they said.
“It was really a pleasure working in Breidbach and we are looking forward to our next visit again.”
The young mothers interviewed, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the researchers showed professionalism and were very kind.
“They are all down-to-earth people and behaved in a professional manner to make you feel at ease.”
They are all down-to-earth people and behaved in a professional manner to make you feel at ease