Building meaningful participation in reintegration among war-affected young mothers in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Northern Uganda

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Accepted Version
Date
2011-07
Authors
McKay, Susan
Veale, Angela
Worthen, Miranda
Wessells, Michael G.
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Lippincott Williams & Wilkins / Wolters Kluwer and the War Trauma Foundation
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Abstract
When young mothers, formerly associated with armed groups, return to communities, they are typically social isolated, stigmatised, and marginalised. This creates reintegration challenges for themselves, and their communities. Their children face child protection problems such as neglect, rejection and abuse. In this paper, the authors describe an innovative field practice - community based, participatory action research (PAR) - that meaningfully involved formerly associated young mothers, and other vulnerable young mothers, in their communities. The project took place in 20 field sites in three countries: Liberia, northern Uganda and Sierra Leone. It was implemented through an academic, nongovernmental organisation (NGO) partnership. The participants were 658 young mothers, both formerly associated with armed groups and other mothers seen to be vulnerable. Within the context of caring psychosocial support, these young mothers organised themselves into groups, declined their problems, and developed social actions to address and change their situations. Some project outcomes included: young mothers and their children experiencing improved social reintegration evidenced by greater family and community acceptance; more positive coping skills; and decreased participation in sex work for economic survival.
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Keywords
Liberia , Meaningful participation , Northern Uganda , Participatory action research , Reintegration , Sierra Leone , War-affected young mothers
Citation
McKay, S., Veale, A., Worthen, M. and Wessells, M. (2011) ‘Building meaningful participation in reintegration among war-affected young mothers in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Northern Uganda’, Intervention, 9(2), pp.108-124. doi:10.1097/WTF.0b013e328348dfe7
Copyright
© 2011, War Trauma Foundation. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Intervention - Journal of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Conflict Affected Areas. To access the final edited and published work see http://journals.lww.com/interventionjnl/Abstract/2011/07000/Building_meaningful_participation_in_reintegration.2.aspx