Facilitating war-affected young mothers' reintegration: lessons from a participatory action research study in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda
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Published version
Date
2013-02-26
Authors
Worthen, Miranda
Onyango, Grace
Wessells, Mike
Veale, Angela
McKay, Susan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Redfame Publishing Inc.
Published Version
Abstract
Young women and girls formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups face multiple challenges. Many become pregnant or have children while they are associated and face stigma and marginalization upon reintegration into civilian communities. This article describes a multi-year participatory action research study that took place in twenty communities in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and northern Uganda from 2006 – 2009 and included more than 650 young mother participants. We find that this community-based approach to reintegration improved the wellbeing of young mother participants and their children. We discuss the challenges and limitations of conducting participatory action research with war-affected young people and make recommendations for future reintegration programming.
Description
Keywords
Child soldiers , Reintegration , Children associated with armed forces and armed groups , Community based , Participatory action research , Liberia , Sierra Leone , Uganda
Citation
Worthen, M., Onyango, G., Wessells, M., Veale, A. and McKay, S. (2013) 'Facilitating War-Affected Young Mothers’ Reintegration: Lessons from a Participatory Action Research Study in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda', International Journal of Social Science Studies, 1(1), pp. 145-149. doi: 10.11114/ijsss.v1i1.43