Social Support Experiences of Yemeni Refugee Women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study
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Date
2024-05-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Women are recognized as one of the most vulnerable groups of refugees. Refugee women face more adaptation challenges and adverse consequences than refugee men. However, social support could be critical in shielding refugees during their adaptation processes. The general objective of this study was to examine the social support experiences of Yemeni refugee women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study employed a descriptive-phenomenological design to achieve its objective. Thirteen Yemeni refugee women were selected using purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview guide was employed to examine the experiences of refugee women. Using a descriptive phenomenological analysis, the data was analyzed. The study's findings revealed that refugee women encountered economic challenges (limited job opportunities and low or no income, housing problems), identity-related challenges (lack of recognized identity documents, increase in price related to identity), linguistic and socio-cultural challenges (language barriers, social isolation, uncooperative police, cultural differences, and obstacles to education), and gender-related challenges (sexual harassment). These adaptation challenges were detrimental to refugee women‟s well-being. The study showed that refugee women asked for support from both formal and informal support sources. Refugee women received instrumental support at refugee-serving humanitarian organizations such as financial support, material support (food rations and bedding, hygiene materials, and milk powder), training support (language, computer, technical and vocational), medical and educational allowances, and daycare and other services. Language barriers, lack of availability of knowledge about the support packages, transportation problems, support providers‟ unfriendly treatment, unmet survival needs, childcare responsibility, failure to give timely responses by support providers, community leaders‟ biased recruitment to the support provided by humanitarian organizations, and support providers‟ biased attitude hindered refugee women from accessing social support at refugee-serving humanitarian organizations. Additionally, the study‟s findings indicated that the support refugee women received from humanitarian organizations working with refugees was inadequate and below their expectations. Moreover, the study's findings indicated that refugee women received various types of social support from family, friends, and independent sponsors, including instrumental support, emotional support, and informational support. Furthermore, the findings indicated that refugee women employed various coping strategies to cope with adaptation challenges in the face of social support deficit. Refugee women dealt with economic challenges using different survival strategies, such as engaging in income-generating activities, selling possessions, marrying local men, and prioritizing spending. The findings also revealed that refugee women employed creative coping strategies, including sending Ethiopian nationals to the shop, taking off the Abaya (Muslim long dress), using essential words from the local language, and using an avoidance strategy to cope with identity-related challenges. Moreover, participating in social gatherings, using language learning and rehearsal strategies, and using virtual communication tools were some of the coping strategies employed by refugee women to cope with linguistic and socio-cultural challenges. Additionally, refugee women used coping strategies such as religious belief, cognitive reappraisal, and venting emotions to cope with various adaptation challenges. The study had implications for the government, refugee-serving humanitarian organizations, local community members, and other concerned bodies to help refugee women have enhanced well-being and thrive instead of merely surviving. The study also had implications for social work education, practice, policy, and research. Key Words: Social support, Adaptation challenge, Coping, Yemeni refugee women, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Keywords
Social support, Adaptation challenge, Coping, Yemeni refugee women, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia