Resettlement Post Conflict: Risk and Protective Factors and Resilience Among Women in Northern Uganda

Approximately 40.8 million people worldwide have experienced internal displacement; 12.5 million of which are in Africa (IDMC, 2016). This study used the risk and resilience ecological framework to explore and understand risk and protective factors as well as examples of resilience among women in northern Uganda resettling after armed conflict and internal displacement. This study focused on the Gulu and Nwoya districts which were affected by the 21-year armed conflict involving the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), from 1986 to 2007. Civilian populations affected by displacement experience numerous risks factors at all levels of social ecological systems; individual, micro, meso, exo and macro systems (Bronfenbrenner 1996).

A convenience sample of 47 women, aged 18 and older provided demographic information and participated in face-to-face interviews conducted between November 2013 and April 2014 in four villages in Nwoya and Gulu districts in northern Uganda. Areas that were explored in individual interviews included: 1) women’s experiences of socio-cultural, and economic role and responsibility changes that have resulted since conflict, displacement, and resettlement, 2) the role of the community in influencing women’s roles and responsibilities, and 3) cultural influences on women’s roles and responsibilities.

Participants were recruited with the support of district and community leaders, social service directors, and faculty colleagues at Makerere University. Female interpreters with the same ethnic background were used for interviews.

All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed; and extensive field notes were taken. Codes were examined across interviews for common patterns and themes were identified based on these similarities (Crabtree & Miller, 1999).  This process produced 203 that were categorized into 22 broader themes that were identified as risk or protective factors.  Thematic and content analyses were performed. Both authors reviewed the codes and themes. Member checking of major themes and interpretations of findings was conducted by participants and community members at the end of data collection and one year later.

Twelve individual interviews were conducted in three villages and eleven interviews were conducted in one village. All women who participated in the interviews had children. Fifty-six percent of the respondents reported being out of the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp for 4-5 years. The majority of respondents were involved in farming (83%), other occupations included small businesses, usually in combination with subsistence farming (17%).  Forty-four percent were married, 27% indicated having no formal education.

 All women in this study experienced displacement due to the LRA armed conflict and the subsequent process of resettlement. Risk factors included poor health, loss of instrumental and emotional support networks, and land vulnerability.  Protective factors included engagement in livelihood and sociocultural activities with others. Resilience was located in women’s personal coping and maintenance of family and social relationships.

Social workers and program developers working with similar populations can draw from these findings and will need to examine the specific risk (economic sustainability, land access, collective trauma) and protective factors (traditional cultural practices, (e.g., dancing and dance groups), ceremonies, and social functions (including religious practices) affecting women, men and children in their specific context.