Health needs and challenges of women and children in Uganda’s refugee settlements: Conceptualising a role for social work

Mwenyango, Hadijah; Palattiyil, George

doi:10.1177/0020872819865010

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Currently, Uganda hosts the third-largest refugee population in the world, and the largest in Africa. Most of the refugees are from neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia ( Mwenyango & Palattiyil, 2019 ). By September 2019, the country was hosting around 1.35 million refugees and asylum seekers, mostly in the West Nile, Northern, and Western parts of the country ( UNHCR, 2019a ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The socio-economic and psychosocial impact of Covid-19 pandemic on urban refugees in Uganda

Bukuluki

Mwenyango

Katongole

et al. 2020

Social Sciences & Humanities Open

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Considering the COVID-19 global public health crisis, this paper examines the socio-cultural, economic and psychosocial impact of the pandemic on urban refugees in Uganda. We analyse the living conditions of urban refugees that make it problematic for them to adhere to public health measures. Since COVID-19 is perceived as “imported”, refugees are assumed as its potential transmitters, consequently experiencing heightened stigma and isolation. Lack of culturally and linguistically accessible information and services excludes them from on-going efforts to prevent the pandemic. The lockdown has affected refugee livelihoods and increased income insecurity, sexual and gender-based violence and anxiety. Given the paucity of government-led services to contain the epidemic, we argue that contingency planning must involve refugees and their communities to access accurate and relevant information in appropriate languages. It is also important to build the capacity of frontline workers to understand the specific needs of refugees to deliver appropriate protection in the context of the pandemic.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The socio-economic and psychosocial impact of Covid-19 pandemic on urban refugees in Uganda

Bukuluki

Mwenyango

Katongole

et al. 2020

Social Sciences & Humanities Open

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“…Refugee adolescent refugees face added challenges due to displacement, stigma and discrimination [ 26 ]. The SRH needs of adolescent refugees are exacerbated by disruption of family and social structures, gender imbalances between men and women, violence and poverty and its effects such as psychological disorders and mental health needs [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescent sexual behaviour in a refugee setting in Uganda

2021

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Background Children under 18 years old constituted more than half (52%) of the refugee population in 2017. Adolescent Sexual and reproductive health is an essential component of primary health care. Yet, not every refugee adolescent is able to access sexual and reproductive health services. Methods Using quantitative data from 356 refugee adolescents and qualitative data (17 in-depth interviews and nine key informant interviews), we examine refugee adolescent sexual behaviour in Bidibidi settlement—the largest refugee settlement in Uganda using a binary logistic regression model. Results The results show that 25% of refugee adolescents in Bidibidi refugee settlement had ever had sex. After controlling for all factors, results show that refugee adolescents aged 16–18 years (OR = 3.47; 95% CI = 1.09–10.94), males (OR = 17.59; 95% CI = 4.48–69.07), not in school (OR = 14.57; 95% CI = 2.20–96.35) were more likely to engage in sexual behaviour than their counterparts. Refugee adolescents who do not agree that a girl cannot get pregnant if she has sex while standing up (knowledge about getting pregnant) were significantly less associated with sexual behaviour (OR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.10–0.85). Conclusions Results from this study show that keeping refugee adolescents in school and providing sexual and reproductive health information are likely to delay refugee adolescents’ engagement in sexual behaviour. Therefore, there is need to promote keeping refugee adolescents in school in order to improve sexual and reproductive health of adolescent refugees living in low-income countries such as Uganda.

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“…Selection of refugee households was based on the daily use of wood fuel for cooking and residence time in the refugee settlement of at least a year. Data from the interviews were categorised according to household family size, i.e., very small (1-3), small (3)(4)(5), medium (6)(7)(8), large (9)(10)(11)(12), and very large (12)(13)(14)(15), to examine if these influenced the determinants of wood fuel collection and use. In addition, two focus group discussions consisting of 15 members (men, women, youths, elders, village leaders, and cultural leaders) were conducted in each settlement.…”

Section: E Household Survey and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the current status of refugees and asylum seekers, the Ugandan Refugee Policy provides for the sheltering of refugees in either camps or settlements [3] and also provides for their free movement, access to land, and work [4]. In addition, the Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (ReHoPE) strategic framework calls for the improvement of the resilience of refugees and host communities to reduce reliance on donor aid [5]. e humanitarian contributions made by nongovernmental organisations, civil society groups, and host communities in helping refugees settle and have access to humanitarian aid and life support services such as livelihood empowerment programmes cannot be underestimated [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Energy Potential of Harvested Wood Fuel by Refugees in Northern Uganda

Barasa

Turyabanawe

Akello

et al. 2022

The Scientific World Journal

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For the last three decades, Uganda has lost considerable natural vegetation cover in the refugee settlements and buffer zones due to the high demand for wood fuel and timber. It is worthy to note that the supplies of wood fuel are more likely to dwindle in the near future. This study explored the determinants of harvested wood-fuel choices and their energy potential. It also examined the implemented energy conservation measures and constraints faced by the refugees both in Palorinya and Imvepi refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. The data were collected by conducting household interviews and collection of wood species samples for energy potential laboratory analysis. Findings indicate that the major sources of wood fuel were firewood, charcoal, briquettes, and biomass fuels. The major refugee choices that determined wood-fuel collection included the family size of the house hold, culture, method of cooking, type of food cooked, high poverty levels, and availability of family labour ( P ≤ 0.05 ). The sampled wood tree species had the highest energy potential were Celtis durandii (5,837 kcal/kg), Parkinsonia aculeata (5,771 kcal/kg), Delonix regia (5,153 kcal/kg), and Bligihia unijugata (5,034 kcal/kg). Access to wood fuel by the households was mainly constrained by limited household income levels, long distances trekked, and inadequate awareness about wood fuel sources and availability. To conserve wood fuel, the refugees deploy several measures including the use of mobile solar gadgets for cooking and lighting, taking up agroforestry, use of briquettes, adoption of energy-saving cooking stoves, and establishment of new woodlots. Therefore, to reverse this trend, the Ugandan government and development partners should prioritise energy investments by supporting cheaper energy alternatives such as mobile solar gadgets and energy-saving cooking technologies, and establishment of woodlots.

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Health needs and challenges of women and children in Uganda’s refugee settlements: Conceptualising a role for social work

Cited by 14 publications

References 26 publications

The socio-economic and psychosocial impact of Covid-19 pandemic on urban refugees in Uganda

The socio-economic and psychosocial impact of Covid-19 pandemic on urban refugees in Uganda

Adolescent sexual behaviour in a refugee setting in Uganda

The Energy Potential of Harvested Wood Fuel by Refugees in Northern Uganda

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