Effects of Conflict and Displacement on Men's Sociocultural and Economic Roles in Northern Uganda

Background and Purpose:

Family systems are disrupted due to death and members being dispersed to different camps (Mels, Derluyn, Broekaert & Rosseel, 2010). Social, cultural and economic networks critical to sustaining livelihoods, land ownership, household income, safety and order of communities, and educational systems are broken (Unruh, 2008). Social and cultural norms also are affected by the conditions of displacement (Unruh 2008). This paper explores the social, cultural and economic losses in the experienced by these men. The risk and resilience ecological framework (Corcoran & Nichols-Casebolt, 2004) with be used to discuss these losses and frame implications for treatment.

Methods:

This paper utilizes the data from a qualitative study exploring the effect of armed conflict and displacement on men’s social, cultural and economic roles and responsibilities in northern Uganda that was conducted in 2018. This paper uses the qualitative data from four focus groups (57 men) and 48 individual interviews with men from two districts in northern Uganda (Acholi population). The ages of the men in the focus groups and individual interviews ranged from 22 – 95. Approximately half of this sample was 39 years or age or younger and half were 40 years of age and older. The vast majority identified as married and identified their livelihood as farming.

Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim. Open coding was done with team of research assistants, and these codes were used to develop the broader themes that were used to code with the HyperResearch software program. IRB approvals were gained from the researcher’s U.S. institution as well as the two Ugandan agencies.

Findings:

The major theme from these qualitative data was loss. Men described experiences of loss in all areas of their lives including, loss of wives, children and other loved ones through death and separation, loss of livelihood and means of production, loss of land, loss of education, loss of social identity (provider role), and loss of culture. The psychological and social salience of these losses will be conceptualized using Corcoran and Nichols-Casebolt’s risk and resilience ecological framework (2004). This framework will allow for the exploration of nuances of factors, such as culture, that can serve as both a risk factor and protective factor. Manifestations of resilience included men creating new social roles and establishing emotionally supportive relationships with other men, using the cultural clan system.

Conclusion and Implications:

Men in northern Uganda that have experienced the conflict and displacement have suffered major losses in the social, cultural and economic areas of their lives. It was important for men to voice these experiences have their losses recognized. The men in this study shared these difficult experiences and they discussed ways to support themselves through these experiences – protective factors. The protective factors of making connection with other men, forming economic savings groups with others provide a window to understand specific practice recommendations that may be relevant to men with similar conflict experiences. The risk and protective factors identified in this study can be explored in greater depth in future research studies.