Encampment of Communities in War-affected Areas and its Effect on Their Livelihood Security and Reproductive Health: The Case of Northern Uganda

Abstract

The paper sought to assess the effect of encampment on the livelihood security and reproductive health needs of IDPs in war affected areas of northern Uganda. The research design was exploratory and descriptive in nature and was largely qualitative, although a small amount of quantitative data are included. Primary and secondary data were collected from a representative sample of 125 women and 66 men. Results show the prevalence of negative effects on their reproductive health, while the effect on their livelihood security in camps is ambivalent. Food rations were supplied by the World Food Programme (WFP). The study found that women and youth fared better than men as they could find incomegenerating activities to do in the camps. However, camp congestion and idleness resulted in heavy alcohol consumption trends that generated poor attitudes towards work and was characterized by gender-based violence.

Keywords: Armed conflict, internally displaced persons (IDPs), livelihood
security, reproductive health, sexual and gender based violence