The effects of conflict on the health and well-being of women and girls in Darfur. Situational analysis report: conversations with the community

Summary: This report provides an overview of community perceptions about the risks women and girls currently face in Darfur as a result of the conflict.

The study's main objectives were to gain an increased understanding of how the conflict had affected women and girl's health; to determine men's perceptions on how the conflict had affected the health of women and girls, and to gain insight into the indigenous ways that the community was using to cope due to the conflict.The findings include:

• reasons for girls not attending school include: familial beliefs and preferences not to send girls to school, not being able to afford school fees; or lack of space in the existing classrooms
• girls and women reported that incidents of sexual violence, abuse and abductions are ongoing for them. Most cases of sexual violence are taking place outside of the camps, usually when girls and women have gone to collect firewood or grass
• health problems mentioned by women include: physical injuries due to beatings, rape, miscarriages, excessive bleeding or injuries sustained during flight from the enemies; sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, irregular menstrual cycles and psychological disturbances such as nightmares
• the majority of the women felt that the available health services were not enough to cater for their needs - they have to queue for a long time and the clinics only take a limited number of patients each day
• most women preferred using the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) for delivery because they were affordable.

Recommendations arising from this study include: the need for increased access and coverage of health care services, increased prevention and response to sexual and gender based violence interventions, including training of the police, GOS and AU military, fuel efficient stoves; community driven income generation activities, access to girls education, and community-based psychosocial interventions. In addition, an in-depth investigation needs to be undertaken to examine health care and education access barriers.