Citation

Kizza D, Loa Knizek B, Kinyanda E, Hjelmeland H. Int. J. Qual. Stud. Health Well-Being 2012; 7: 1-13.

Affiliation

Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Butabika National Referral and Teaching Mental Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; d_kizza@yahoo.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Co-Action Pub.)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

22989691

Abstract

We set out to investigate suicide among women in a post-conflict context in Northern Uganda using qualitative psychological autopsy interviews. Three to five relatives and friends for each of the three suicides recruited were interviewed (N=11). Through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) we found that the women all had been through traumatic experiences attributable to the protracted war/conflict between the rebel groups and Ugandan Government armed forces. Nevertheless, the decision of self-inflicted death seemed to have been due to a combination of unpleasant experiences/events that prevailed within the last 3 months prior to the suicide. These experiences are summarized in two broad themes: No control in life and No care. Changes in the traditional gender roles, men's quest for their lost masculinity, and women's attempt to fight for their rights that was perceived as a cultural transgression contributed to the women's suicides.

Language: en