Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa
The holistic care model was designed to address the multifaceted medical, psychosocial, socioeconomic, and legal needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). However, the extent to which this model aligns with survivors’ needs has largely been shaped by the perspectives of service...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Global Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2486440 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849768381486465024 |
|---|---|
| author | Ali Bitenga Alexandre Alain Mukwege Kitoka Moke Mutondo Rosalie Biaba Apasa Guerschom Mugisho Christine Amisi Raha Maroyi Prince Mujumbe Salama Denis Mukwege |
| author_facet | Ali Bitenga Alexandre Alain Mukwege Kitoka Moke Mutondo Rosalie Biaba Apasa Guerschom Mugisho Christine Amisi Raha Maroyi Prince Mujumbe Salama Denis Mukwege |
| author_sort | Ali Bitenga Alexandre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The holistic care model was designed to address the multifaceted medical, psychosocial, socioeconomic, and legal needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). However, the extent to which this model aligns with survivors’ needs has largely been shaped by the perspectives of service providers. This multi-sited qualitative study is based on 19 in-depth interviews with female survivors from five conflict-affected countries in the Great Lakes region – namely, the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, the Central African Republic, and Uganda. It explores their experiences and perspectives on the model. The study challenges power dynamics in knowledge production by amplifying the voices of survivors themselves. The semi-structured interviews, conducted online via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, reveal that survivors’ medical, psychosocial, socioeconomic, and legal needs are deeply interconnected. These needs must, therefore, be addressed simultaneously – if survivors choose to do so – in order to achieve comprehensive recovery from the multifaceted consequences of CRSV. While the model aligns with survivors’ primary needs, access to its services remains problematic across the region due to a variety of technical, cultural, epistemic, geographical, and financial barriers, creating a significant gap between the model as a ‘theory’ and its practical implementation on the ground. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe4527142eef4f7a9ba7c45df0885c1c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe4527142eef4f7a9ba7c45df0885c1c2025-08-20T03:03:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062025-12-0120110.1080/17441692.2025.2486440Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of AfricaAli Bitenga Alexandre0Alain Mukwege1Kitoka Moke Mutondo2Rosalie Biaba Apasa3Guerschom Mugisho4Christine Amisi5Raha Maroyi6Prince Mujumbe Salama7Denis Mukwege8Laboratory of Prospective Anthropology, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumSchool of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USASchool of Social Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the CongoIndependent Researcher, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoPanthéon-Sorbonne University, Paris, FrancePanzi Hospital, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the CongoSchool of Social Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the CongoIndependent Researcher, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the CongoSchool of Social Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the CongoThe holistic care model was designed to address the multifaceted medical, psychosocial, socioeconomic, and legal needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). However, the extent to which this model aligns with survivors’ needs has largely been shaped by the perspectives of service providers. This multi-sited qualitative study is based on 19 in-depth interviews with female survivors from five conflict-affected countries in the Great Lakes region – namely, the DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, the Central African Republic, and Uganda. It explores their experiences and perspectives on the model. The study challenges power dynamics in knowledge production by amplifying the voices of survivors themselves. The semi-structured interviews, conducted online via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, reveal that survivors’ medical, psychosocial, socioeconomic, and legal needs are deeply interconnected. These needs must, therefore, be addressed simultaneously – if survivors choose to do so – in order to achieve comprehensive recovery from the multifaceted consequences of CRSV. While the model aligns with survivors’ primary needs, access to its services remains problematic across the region due to a variety of technical, cultural, epistemic, geographical, and financial barriers, creating a significant gap between the model as a ‘theory’ and its practical implementation on the ground.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2486440Conflict-related sexual violenceholistic care modelsurvivors experiences and perspectivesbarriers to careand survivors’ recommendationsGood health and well-being |
| spellingShingle | Ali Bitenga Alexandre Alain Mukwege Kitoka Moke Mutondo Rosalie Biaba Apasa Guerschom Mugisho Christine Amisi Raha Maroyi Prince Mujumbe Salama Denis Mukwege Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa Global Public Health Conflict-related sexual violence holistic care model survivors experiences and perspectives barriers to care and survivors’ recommendations Good health and well-being |
| title | Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa |
| title_full | Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa |
| title_fullStr | Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa |
| title_short | Bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa |
| title_sort | bridging theory and praxis in the comprehensive treatment of conflict related sexual violence in the great lakes region of africa |
| topic | Conflict-related sexual violence holistic care model survivors experiences and perspectives barriers to care and survivors’ recommendations Good health and well-being |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2486440 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alibitengaalexandre bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT alainmukwege bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT kitokamokemutondo bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT rosaliebiabaapasa bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT guerschommugisho bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT christineamisi bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT rahamaroyi bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT princemujumbesalama bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica AT denismukwege bridgingtheoryandpraxisinthecomprehensivetreatmentofconflictrelatedsexualviolenceinthegreatlakesregionofafrica |