Local constructions of gender-based violence amongst IDPs in northern Uganda: analysis of archival data collected using a gender- and age-segmented participatory ranking methodology
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a significant problem in conflict-affected settings. Understanding local constructions of such violence is crucial to developing preventive and responsive interventions to address this issue. METHODS: This study reports on a secondary analysis of archived data collected as part of formative qualitative work - using a group participatory ranking methodology (PRM) - informing research on the prevalence of GBV amongst IDPs in northern Uganda in 2006. Sixty-four PRM group discussions were held with women, with men, with girls (aged 14 to 18 years), and with boys (aged 14 to 18 years) selected on a randomized basis across four internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Lira District. Discussions elicited problems facing women in the camps, and - through structured participatory methods - consensus ranking of their importance and narrative accounts explaining these judgments. RESULTS: Amongst forms of GBV faced by women, rape was ranked as the greatest concern amongst participants (with a mean problem rank of 3.4), followed by marital rape (mean problem rank of 4.5) and intimate partner violence (mean problem rank of 4.9). Girls ranked all forms of GBV as higher priority concerns than other participants. Discussions indicated that these forms of GBV were generally considered normalized within the camp. Gender roles and power, economic deprivation, and physical and social characteristics of the camp setting emerged as key explanatory factors in accounts of GBV prevalence, although these played out in different ways with respect to differing forms of violence. CONCLUSIONS: All groups acknowledged GBV to represent a significant threat - among other major concerns such as transportation, water, shelter, food and security - for women residing in the camps. Given evidence of the significantly higher risk in the camp of intimate partner violence and marital rape, the relative prominence of the issue of rape in all rankings suggests normalization of violence within the home. Programs targeting reduction in GBV need to address community-identified root causes such as economic deprivation and social norms related to gender roles. More generally, PRM appears to offer an efficient means of identifying local constructions of prevailing challenges in a manner that can inform programming.
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Women were sometimes forced to have sex in exchange for food or other basic necessities, or turned to infidelity and prostitution to improve their economic situation, which increased the risk of intimate partner violence due to anger and jealousy by their partners.
“Women were sometimes forced to have sex in exchange for food or other basic necessities, or turned to infidelity and prostitution to improve their economic situation, which increased the risk of IPV due to anger and jealousy by their partners (Ager et al., 2018;Beswick, 2001;Horn, 2010).”
From Sexual and gender-based violence against South Sudanese refugees in Uganda: a mixed-methods study (2025) · cites this paper as Ager et al., 2018
Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA lack of income-generating opportunities in camps and settlements increased poverty, which then led to an increase in forced early marriages.
“A lack of income-generating opportunities in camps and settlements increased poverty, which then led to an increase in forced early marriages (Ager et al., 2018;Horn, 2010).”
From Sexual and gender-based violence against South Sudanese refugees in Uganda: a mixed-methods study (2025) · cites this paper as Ager et al., 2018
In Results > Economic deprivation (page unavailable), participants report that poverty in the camp led parents to force daughters into early marriage. The section also describes a lack of income, but does not establish that a lack of income-generating opportunities increased poverty or that forced early marriages increased over time. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredProstitution increased girls' and women's risk of sexual and gender-based violence outside the home.
“Prostitution also increased girls' and women's risk of sexual and gender-based violence outside of the home (Ager et al., 2018;Akhter & Kusakabe, 2014).”
From Sexual and gender-based violence against South Sudanese refugees in Uganda: a mixed-methods study (2025) · cites this paper as Ager et al., 2018
The Results (Economic deprivation; page not provided) describe women and girls engaging in transactional sex under economic pressure and soldiers coercing sexual interactions through promises of money. The Results (Threats linked to the social and physical characteristics of camps; page not provided) also describe risks of assault outside the home. The paper does not establish that prostitution itself increased that outside-the-home risk. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPoorly constructed shelters, latrines located far away, shared bathrooms, lack of fencing, poor lighting at night, and lack of security personnel were perceived as increasing the risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
“Poorly constructed shelters, latrines being located far away, men and women having to share the same bathrooms, a lack of fencing surrounding camps to deter intruders, poor lighting at night, and a lack of security personnel were all perceived as increasing the risk of sexual and gender-based violence (Ager et al., 2018;Freedman, 2016;Sommer et al., 2018;Qayum et al., 2012).”
From Sexual and gender-based violence against South Sudanese refugees in Uganda: a mixed-methods study (2025) · cites this paper as Ager et al., 2018
The Results section, “Threats linked to the social and physical characteristics of camps” (page unavailable), reports that participants associated unprotected camp peripheries, water sources and firewood-collection areas with a high risk of assault. It does not identify poorly built shelters, distant latrines, shared bathrooms, missing fences, poor lighting or a lack of security personnel as the perceived risks listed in the claim. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCultural beliefs around the acceptability and normalization of violence in the home and workplace were also mentioned.
“Cultural beliefs around the acceptability and normalization of violence in the home and workplace were also mentioned (Ager at al., 2018;Wringe et al., 2019;Sommer et al., 2018;Horn, 2010;Wachter et al., 2018).”
From Sexual and gender-based violence against South Sudanese refugees in Uganda: a mixed-methods study (2025) · cites this paper as Ager at al., 2018
The Results sections “Impact of abuse” and “Gender roles and power” describe marital rape as normalized and household gender roles as permitting violence. The passages do not address the acceptability or normalization of violence in workplaces, so this source supports only the home portion of the claim. Page numbers were not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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References 16 · Cited by 41
Research works printed but not linked: 10
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- Authors
- Ager, A., Bancroft, C., Berger, E., & Stark, L.
- Affiliations
- Queen Margaret University (GB)
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ager, Alastair
- Venue
- Conflict and Health
- Published
- 2018-02-07
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 10-10
- ISSN
- 1752-1505 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5803931
- OpenAlex
- W2789818138
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 7.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Conflict and Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Queen Margaret University Publications Repository (Queen Margaret University) (acceptedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Queen Margaret University Publications Repository (Queen Margaret University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Columbia Academic Commons (Columbia University)
- Funders
- United States Agency for International Development
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Security, and Conflict
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Conflict Studies
- Keywords
- gender-based violence, internally displaced persons, Northern Uganda, rape, marital rape, intimate partner violence, normalization of violence, gender roles, economic hardship, women's experiences, displaced persons camps, conflict-affected settings, Lira District
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