Timeline: 2 weeks Jan 2013
Title:
Qualitative Assessment of Male Refugee Survivors of Gender Based Violence In Rural and Urban Settings In Uganda
Background:
- Gender Based Violence (GBV) is highly prevalent in the refugee population.
- Most of the current literature focuses on women and girls and little information is written about GBV in male refugees and the services available to them.
- The definition of GBV includes physical torture (e.g., beatings to the genitals and castration), forced sexual intercourse by the perpetrator in all the body orifices (e.g., nose, ear, mouth and anus) and insertion of objects (e.g., sticks/guns) into orifices.
- There is a paucity of data on sexual violence against men and boys.
- Previous studies show that GBV against men can have significant negative physical, mental, social and economic consequences on the male survivor and his family.
- In men and boys the motivation of sexual violence is more likely an expression of aggression, power and dominance over the enemy.
- In many societies, sexual acts between men-on-men are associated with extreme stigma, as sodomy in many sub-Saharan African countries is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment and/or death.
Project:
The Purpose of this study was to, a) Preform a qualitative assessment of male refugee survivors of GBV in Uganda, b) Use this information to develop a screening tool that can be implemented in settings where male refugees may present for care and c) Assess the current availability of services available to male refugee survivors and d) Use these findings to make recommendations to government and non-government organizations that routinely provide services to refugees.
Funding:
2013 MPH Global Health Travel Award provided funds for transportation for self, the remainder of the funds were secured by the Principle Investigator of the project.
When not working:
During this trip I was able to take a day out and visit the glorious mountain gorillas of the Bwindi Jungle! I also discovered the perfect breakfast, a “Rolex”.