|
Conference Proceedings 2000
Findings On Reproductive Health Of Refugees
And Displaced Populations
Washington DC | December 5-6, 2000
Sexual and Gender-Based
Violence - Size and Scope of the Problem
| Moderator: Beth Vann, UNHCR Consultant |
Presentations:
Haifa Jammal
Aziza Khalidi |
Domestic violence among selected Palestinian refugee communities
in Lebanon: An exploratory study and ideas for further action |
| Sam Posner |
Factors associated with self-reported forced sex among Azerbaijani
women |
Josephat
Nyarubakula |
Unsafe Haven: Report on the findings of the baseline sexual violence
survey among Burundian refugees |
|
| Domestic violence among selected Palestinian refugee communities
in Lebanon: An exploratory study and ideas for further action
Abstract revision date: December 5-6, 2000
|
| Authors |
Association Najdeh staff and Aziza Khalidi, Association Najdeh consultant
|
| Presenter |
Haifa Jammal and Aziza Khalidi
|
| Background |
Domestic violence (DV) is a social issue from a human rights perspective
as well as a public health perspective at a global level. There are indications
of a problem among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, but concrete qualitative
and quantitative evidence about its magnitude and dimensions is limited.
|
Purpose of study
or program |
The study objectives were: (1) to assess the prevalence of domestic
violence among families of children attending Najdeh kindergartens (KGs)
in several Palestinian camps in Lebanon during the school year 1998-1999;
(2) to examine relationships among domestic violence indicators; (3) to
explore relationships between beating of wives by their husbands and a
set of socioeconomic and demographic correlates; (4) and to derive ideas
for avenues for action within current realities.
|
Data collection
methods |
DV data were generated from interviews conducted by trained KG teachers
with 452 Palestinian refugee mothers of children attending KGs in Palestinian
camps in Lebanon during February and March of 1999. Socioeconomic and demographic
data were obtained from KG records.
|
Study or
program findings |
Findings showed that 29.6% of women were subjected at least once during
their marriage to beating by the husband. 67.9% of children were subjected
at least once to beating, almost entirely by parents. 44.7% of women reported
being shouted at at least once during their marriage. 12.2% of women reported
being insulted at least once during their marriage, primarily from
husbands.
When women reported an excellent relationship
with their husbands, 11.9 percent of them reported being beaten by their
husbands.
Correlation was high among indicators of domestic
violence with varying types and perpetrators. Multivariate logistical regression
analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between socioeconomic
and demographic correlates and beating of wives by their husbands. Findings
indicated that the odds of ever being beaten by their husbands were 32
times higher for women who reported their relationship as bad compared
to those who reported an excellent relationship. Being in families earning
a median income and having a husband between 46 and 67 years of age were
shown to decrease the odds of being beaten. When women reported having
chronic illness, the odds of being beaten by their husbands increased significantly
threefold.
|
Conclusions
and program
implications |
The study shows that domestic violence among the study population of
refugees is a problem of significant magnitude that requires action coupled
with further research.
This study recommends interventions along three avenues: (1) developing
a surveillance program, (2) conflict management skills development program,
and (3) direct counseling program.
|
For further
information |
Haifa Jammal, Vice Executive Director, Association Najdeh, PO Box 113-6099,
Hamra Beirut 1103-2100, Lebanon
Telephone: (961) 1-302 079 or (961) 1-703 357
Fax: (961) 1-703 358
Email: association@najdeh.org.lb |
|
| : |
Factors associated with self-reported forced sex among Azerbaijani
women
Abstract revision date: December 5-6, 2000 |
| Authors |
J Kerimova, Relief International
SF Posner, YT Brown, J Schmidt, S Hillis, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion
S Meikle, National Institutes of Health
J Lewis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center
for Infectious Diseases
A Duerr, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center
for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
|
| Presenter |
Sam Posner
|
| Background |
Previous reports have indicated that refugee and internally displaced
(R/IDP) women are at high risk for experiencing violence, including forced
sex. Few research studies have been conducted to systematically collect
data on the prevalence and incidence of forced sex among R/IDP women.
|
Purpose of
study or program |
This report presents data on the prevalence of women who reported experiencing
forced sex and the age at which it last occurred.
|
Data collection
methods |
A total of 701 women from 1 urban and 3 rural reproductive health clinics
participated in a study on women's health. Both refugee and local women
participated in the study. The relationship between self-reported forced
sex and reproductive history, demographics and adverse living conditions
were examined.
|
Study or
program findings |
Nearly a quarter (24.1%) of the women reported that they had been forced
to have sex at some point in their life. Women were at higher risk for
forced sex if they were refugee/IDP (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.04-2.86), wanted
their last pregnancy (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.73-5.33), used withdrawal as their
primary form of birth control (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.32-4.25), thought their
husband had other partners (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.30-5.08) and were married
longer (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10).
|
Conclusions
and program
implications |
This study is one of the first studies to document the prevalence of
forced sex among refugee women in a refugee setting. While previous reports
have documented similar rates of forced sex, fewer have identified factors
associated with experiencing forced sex.
|
For further
information |
Sam Posner, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center
for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 4770 Buford Highway
Mail Stop K-34, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 USA
Telephone: 770-488-5060
Fax: 770-488-5965
Email: shp5@cdc.gov
|
|
Unsafe Haven: Report on the findings of a baseline sexual violence
survey among Burundian refugees
Abstract revision date: December 5-6, 2000 |
| Authors |
Laurel K. Fain, International Rescue Committee Consultant
|
| Presenter |
Josephat Nyarubakula, Field Researcher, International Rescue Committee,
Tanzania
|
| Background |
Outbreaks of conflict in Burundi during the last decade have caused
hundreds of thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 1,000,000
people since 1993. In late 1999, a new camp, Karago, was prepared
for the expected continued influx.
|
Purpose of study
or program |
In February 2000, a baseline survey of sexual violence was conducted
among the population of 41,399 refugees residing in the newly created Karago
refugee camp. The aim of the survey was to interview a representative
sample of all women over the age of twelve years about their experiences
with and concerns about sexual violence and sexual harassment.
|
Data collection
methods |
A standardized questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers
selected from among community health workers and community services workers
from Karago camp. 10% of households on the food ration registration list
for Karago were randomly selected to be contacted by interviewers. However,
this method of random selection proved problematic, and respondent households
were instead selected by their addresses within the camp. Respondents were
randomly identified from among the adult women in each selected household.
Responses were analyzed utilizing the EpiInfo data management program.
|
Study or program
findings |
Survivors of rape made up 8.2% of the women surveyed. Respondents who
indicated that they had experienced sexual harassment made up 11.1% of
the population surveyed. The overwhelmingly physical nature of the sexual
harassment experienced by the refugee women is notable. Marriages for the
purpose of protection or as a result of abduction and/or rape make up 25%
of marriages that occurred since relocation.
29% of the incidents of rape reported during
this survey occurred either within the refugee camp environment (20%),
or after crossing the Tanzanian border as refugees traveled to Karago camp
(9%).
Risk groups were identified through statistical
analysis. A woman who has experienced sexual harassment was found to have
a much greater chance of experiencing rape, as were women under the age
of 35. Similarly, women under 25 are more likely to have experienced sexual
harassment. A lower risk of experiencing rape was associated with
having a husband during flight and with having been a refugee previously.
|
Conclusions and
program implications |
At least 63% of the incidents of rape experienced by women in Karago
camp can be seen as closely related to the current instability in Burundi,
either directly by soldiers invading their homes or indirectly through
their flight or their status as refugees. This study has found refugee
camps to be dangerous places for refugee women, places where their risk
of sexual violence is quite high.
|
For further
information |
Laurel Fain, Consultant, c/o Goal Angola , PO Box 3051, Luanda, Angola
Email: Rkevlihan@hotmail.com
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Next: Challenges in Implementing
Reproductive
Health Programs in Complex Emergencies
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