Community reintegrating former child soldiers in Northern Uganda

A qualitative study on the road to recovery

Bibliographic Data

ID15345992
AuthorsJ M van Leeuwen (0000-0002-6841-9022, University of Colorado Denver, corresponding author), Laurie A Miller (0000-0001-9064-1589, Cornell University), Laurie Miller (Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, Cornell University, Cornell, Ithaca, New York, USA), Maira Zamir (Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, Cornell University, Cornell, Ithaca, New York, USA), Ryan Grundy (Global Livingston Institute, Denver, Colorado, USA), Jerry Amanya (Global Livingston Institute, Denver, Colorado, USA), Clifford Chen (0000-0002-6083-7246, Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, Cornell University, Cornell, Ithaca, New York, USA), Michael Feinberg (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars)
Year2018
Volume28
Issue2
Pages105-109
Publication date2018-03-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychology in Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1433-0237 • E-ISSN: 1815-5626
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14330237.2018.1454580
OpenAlexW2799684173
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited10

This study aimed to profile the qualities of a holistic community reintegration program for former child soldiers (FCS) in the Lira region of Northern Uganda. Informants were a convenience sample of 37 FCS (age range 17 to 34, mean age 23.86, SD = 4.715 years; females = 29.73%). FCS completed semi-structured interviews on their current living situations and existing resources. This was aimed at assessing how they were transitioning back into the community and identifying gaps in resources. About 24% of FCS reported feeling unwelcome in their communities, suggesting a need for additional support and resources through the community integration models. Thematic analysis of the data suggests that the FCS would benefit from a holistic community reintegration program with the following qualities: psychosocial support, workforce development training, and job placement. FCS emphasised the need for skills training and employment opportunities over health and wellness; suggesting that mental health support and health care are not sufficient alone for them to successfully reintegrate into the community. FCS community integration policies and practices should prioritise holistic approaches

Community integration · Feeling · Medical education · Mental health · Political science · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Workforce · Child Abuse and Trauma · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Nursing · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology · Social Psychology