| Abstract: | The study sought to assess the nature of armed conflict sexual violence trauma, social and economic strain experienced by girls and women in conflict of Tigray, northern region of Ethiopia. Both qualitative and quantitative (mixed - convergent parallel) research approaches were applied. Descriptive research design was adopted to analyze the qualitative data regarding the nature of their traumas due to the gang rape by armed groups. While, the quantitative data were used for identifying the nature of the psychological post-traumatic outcomes (post traumatic growth or post traumatic stress disorder) and level of social acceptance of the society based on survivor’s perception. A sample of 50 respondents, of which 23 girls and 27 women survivors participated in the survey. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data while, among them, 14 respondents were selected purposively to conduct the in-depth interview to collect the qualitative data. The analysis focused on the traumas in terms of physical, psychological, social stigma and social acceptance of sexual violence along with economic strain and humanitarian aid intervention by different stakeholders. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the primary data with the help of SPSS 22.0. The results of the findings revealed that the survivors experienced a life-threatening physical abuse by armed groups results in raptured anal and genital organs, pelvic pain, fistula, bleeding, and sexual transmitted diseases including HIV and Hepatitis. The majority of the respondents also suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder as they were facing ethnic slur as well as exposed to atrocity committed on their families, friends and relatives. Nonetheless, some have developed positive posttraumatic growth emanated from their personal strength and religious believes. Despite the occurrence of frequent and perpetuated sexual violence against civilians during the conflict, the victims were still suffered from high social stigma. However, they admitted they have seen social acknowledgement towards the sexual violence. The economic strain of the victims was also aggravated due to lack of sufficient humanitarian aid intervention. It can be concluded that the sexual violence traumas of the survivors of conflict in Tigray were brutal atrocity against humanity. Mobile and outreach medical services with sufficient supply logistics are required for immediate relief of basic necessities. |
