Trauma Informed Care for female Survivors of Domestic Violence in a shelter setting in Addis Ababa
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Date
2025-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study explores the implementation and perceived effectiveness of trauma-informed care (TIC) for survivors of domestic violence in a shelter setting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The research aimed to understand how TIC principles such as safety, empowerment, and trust—are applied by service providers and experienced by survivors within the Women’s Shelter and Development Association located in Akaki Kality Sub-City. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to capture the lived experiences of participants. The study involved ten purposively selected participants—six survivors and four service providers. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method. Findings revealed that while counseling services often incorporate TIC principles like emotional validation and confidentiality, other aspects of service delivery lack consistency. Survivors reported positive experiences within the shelter but noted limited support during reintegration. Service providers identified key challenges including inadequate training, emotional fatigue, and lack of institutional guidance. Cultural stigma and poor inter-agency coordination also hindered effective implementation. The study concludes that trauma-informed care is only partially practiced in the Ethiopian context, often relying on personal values rather than structured systems. It recommends more consistent training, policy support, and culturally adapted TIC models to improve service delivery. These findings contribute to the limited literature on TIC in low-resource settings and
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offer practical recommendations for enhancing survivor-centered care in Ethiopia. Keywords: trauma-informed care, domestic violence, survivors, Ethiopia, qualitative research
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Keywords
trauma-informed care, domestic violence, survivors, Ethiopia, qualitative research