Gender Accessibility to Community-Based Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) By Communities Affected by The Post Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) War in Northern Uganda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ajp.1580Keywords:
Gender, Accessibility, TF-CBT.Abstract
Purpose: This paper sought to assess gender accessibility to Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) among communities which were affected by LRA insurgency for two decades in Northern Uganda. A pre study had found out that individuals who survived insurgency such as abduction, living in camps and death continuously displayed muted emotions and other symptoms of grief, loss and depression. This called for several interventions, TF-CBT being among them. The potential utilization of TF-CBT as an intervention to address post insurgency trauma requires equal access to the TF-CBT measures taking into account gender sensitivity. This called for assessment of its gender accessibility.
Methodology: The study design was qualitatively phenomenological. Purposive sample size of participants was 419. Data was got through the help of VHTs, TPO social workers, caregivers, health workers, clients and LCs. Interviews, questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions, (FGDs) with clients were tools that aided data collection and analyzed thematically. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was the guiding theory that helped in identifying that much as there was gender inequality, there were instances of equality in accessing TF-CBT with suggested cues to solving gender inequality.
Findings: This paper notes that causes of gender inequality in accessing TF-CBT are; alcoholism among men, limiting number of entrants, negative attitude towards enrolling for TF-CBT, lack of family support from wives, and self-trust among men. This paper proposes that gender inequality in accessing the intervention can be mitigated by both government and other stake holders through affirmative action, mobilizing all sexes, stopping restrictions in recruitment of beneficiaries, use various leaders for sensitization, extending services of TF-CBT in villages and employing more workers amongst others.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Elizabeth Amongi, Prof. Peter Baguma, Assoc. Prof. Consolata Kabonesa, Dr. Otyola Roberts Wandera, Mr. Muwairwa Michael
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