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Burundian Female Survivors of War (SOW): Views of Health Before, During, and Post Conflict ^☆

Jenelle R. Walker

Jeanne Nizigiyimana

Oluwasola Banke-Thomas

Eric Niragira

Yvette Nijimbere

Crista Johnson-Agbakwu

Gender, Women’s Health Care Concerns and Other Social Factors in Health and Health Care

ISBN: 978-1-78756-176-2, eISBN: 978-1-78756-175-5

Publication date: 18 September 2018

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the health status of women before, during, and after the war, and to explore women’s perceived health needs and current access to healthcare.

Methodology/approach

Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted in urban and rural areas. A total of 52 women participated in the study (N = 52; Individual Interviews, n = 12; Focus Group Participants, n = 40).

Findings

Women’s health concerns and healthcare needs overlap between the rural and urban communities. The women reported the needs for empowerment in the forms of social support groups for health, specialists for women’s health, education, resources, prevention, financial support to look for medical services, and mental health issues.

Research limitations/implications

Since these focus groups and interviews were conducted, the women have continued to meet. The strength of these meetings is represented in the forms of preparing a meal, eating, and socializing in unity. The social support experienced in these gatherings allows the women to openly express their issues, fears, concerns, joys, and successes. The CBPR approach is an important necessity when working with vulnerable populations. There were some inherent limitations due to economic issues to support the gatherings, transportation, and health-related complications that may have prevented women from attending.

Originality/value

Disparate health outcomes and biologic–environmental interactions are represented in female survivors of war. Their issues began or were exacerbated during war and continue today. In the future, we seek to identify and establish a culturally and gender-specific intervention for health access, prevention, maintenance, and improvements.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank CEDAC staff and personnel for their assistance. This research study was made possible through an international research award by the Center for International Translational Intervention Research (CITIR) at Arizona State University (ASU).

The manuscript preparation was supported by an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship served at the Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

Citation

Walker, J.R., Nizigiyimana, J., Banke-Thomas, O., Niragira, E., Nijimbere, Y. and Johnson-Agbakwu, C. (2018), "Burundian Female Survivors of War (SOW): Views of Health Before, During, and Post Conflict ^☆ ", Gender, Women’s Health Care Concerns and Other Social Factors in Health and Health Care (Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Vol. 36), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 235-258. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0275-495920180000036013

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited