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Article
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 (2013)
  • Miranda E Worthen, San Jose State University
  • G. Onyango
  • A. Veale, Columbia University
  • M. Wessells, Columbia University
  • S. McKay, University of Wyoming
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.

Publication Date
2013
Publisher Statement
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons–Attribution 3.0 Unported license. The final publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v1i1.43.
Citation Information
Miranda E Worthen, G. Onyango, A. Veale, M. Wessells, et al.. "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 Vol. 1 Iss. 1 (2013)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/miranda_worthen/18/