Exploring coping strategies and support systems for gender-based violence among urban refugee women in Nairobi, Kenya: Insights across three migration phases

Background: This study examined the coping strategies and support systems used by urban refugee survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) from their countries of origin through transit to their stay in Nairobi, Kenya, while awaiting refugee status determination. Refugee women, who make up nearly half of all refugees worldwide, are often overlooked in both policy formulation and scholarly research because their specific needs and perspectives remain unrecognized. GBV involves harmful actions against women due to their gender, representing a significant human rights violation that leads to severe physical and psychological effects on survivors. The lack of sufficient support services, coupled with the associated stigma and fear of reporting these incidents, drives refugee women to develop distinct coping strategies. Further research into these methods is essential to understand their complexity and enhance support systems. This study was grounded in an integrated framework combining the transactional theory of stress and coping with the migration process framework. It investigated how refugee survivors of GBV cope with their experiences and the support systems they access across three migration phases. By integrating insights from both refugee women and service providers, the study explored the coping strategies and support mechanisms utilized throughout the pre-migration, migration journey, and post-migration stages.Research Aim: This dissertation addressed three primary research questions. The first question explored experiences of GBV of refugee women across three stages of migration. The second question investigated the coping strategies and support systems used by women refugees in three migration phases. The third question examined how refugee service providers perceive the support networks and coping mechanisms available to women who have survived GBV.Design and Analyses: Data was collected from Kenya between August and October 2024. I began the analytical process by reviewing detailed field notes to generate primary descriptive and interpretive codes, and NVivo 15 software was used for analysis. Subsequently, additional codes were incorporated into the initial list from the transcripts and refined. The researcher organized the generated codes into potential subthemes and overarching themes. Two research assistants reviewed the transcripts to align their findings and resolve coding discrepancies. Data triangulation improved the study's validity by comparing qualitative responses from refugee women with those gathered from service providers.Results: The findings described the experiences of refugee survivors with GBV throughout three distinct phases of migration. Findings demonstrated that refugee women endure GBV both in their home countries and throughout their journeys until they receive confirmation of their refugee status. Refugee women encountered varying levels of violence and different challenges during each phase of their migration process. Some participants experienced severe trauma before leaving their home countries, while others faced multiple violent incidents during their journey to safety. GBV consistently posed a significant risk throughout migration, with survivor experiences differing based on their coping abilities and support networks. The analysis of coping strategies indicated they fell into two categories: emotion-focused and problem-focused mechanisms, reflecting the themes identified in the interviews. Refugee women managed the psychological and physical stress associated with GBV through emotional support networks and community resources. The results outlined the institutional and community-based support structures available to these women and highlighted their crucial role in the recovery and empowerment process. Findings indicated that community-based support organizations provided emotional assistance alongside practical help, while institutional support systems offered resources for safety and recovery services, including legal aid and healthcare. The study illustrated how organized programs and social networks enabled refugee women to build resilience through improved access to services and the development of peer relationships. It demonstrated how effective support systems can mitigate the effects of GBV and support survivor's recovery.Conclusion: Significant progress has been made in addressing the challenges faced by displaced populations while emphasizing a focus on refugee women who have experienced GBV. Coping strategies in displacement arise from cultural influences, structural barriers, and personal resilience. It is important to prioritize refugee voices in studies to capture an accurate representation of their lived experiences and survival techniques. The paper offered practical strategies for trauma-informed care that respect cultural differences to enhance refugee social work support systems. Limitations included recall bias and future research is encouraged to investigate longitudinal coping methods and target specific refugee groups. The goal is to foster compassionate responses to humanitarian issues affecting displaced individuals while upholding their dignity and enhancing their resilience and capacity for action.