The extra burden of care on refugee women - Abstract citation ID ckaf180.190 - 292

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Marglet

Abstract citation ID ckaf180.190. The study examines how caring responsibilities for refugees with non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension and diabetes, shape the lived burden of refugee women in a protracted displacement context in Uganda. Drawing on an ethnographic approach in the Nyumanzi Settlement, it draws on in-depth interviews and key informant interviews to analyze how gender norms and displacement vulnerabilities intensify workload, time, physical, economic, social, and psychological strain. Findings conclude that targeted support for informal caregivers is critical.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusion

2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health Abstract Book vi69 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.190 292 The extra burden of care on refugee women caring for husbands living with non-communicable diseases in Uganda: an ethnographic study Esther Nanfuka1, Rita Nakanjako1, Susan Whyte2, Dricile Ratib3, Bishal Gyawali3, Emmanuel Raju2, Tania Draebel2, Morten Skovdal2, Ib Bygbjerg2, David Kyaddondo1 1Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda 2University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark 3Muni University, Arua, Uganda OP 30: Refugees and Asylum Seekers 5, B308 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 16:00-17:12 Background: Refugees the world over have a high burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), with hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases being particularly common. Informal caregivers play a critical role in the long-term management of chronic conditions such as NCDs. Globally, the majority of informal caregivers are women, with wives or partners constituting a significant proportion. Extant evidence shows that caring for patients with chronic illnesses is burdensome for informal caregivers. Little is known about the burden of caring for chronically ill persons during prolonged periods of forced displacement. Aim: This paper examines the burden of caring for individuals with NCDs in a protracted refugee situation. It is based on an ethnographic study among South Sudanese refugees residing in Nyumanzi Settlement in northern Uganda. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 refugee women caring for husbands living with HTN and/or DM and key informant interviews with community leaders and staff of the entities managing refugee affairs in Uganda. Data collection followed a community based participatory approach where South Sudanese refugees served as peer researchers. Results: We found that traditional gender norms, which primarily assign the care role to females, and demands of managing HTNand DM?such as a strict diet; intersected with displacement related vulnerabilities including poverty, dependence on aid, and dispersed social support networks to exacerbate the workload, time, physical, economic, social and psychological burden of care on the women. Conclusion: Caring for husbands with NCDs in a protracted refugee situation compels women to shoulder additional care work and responsibilities conventionally assigned to men to enable their ailing husbands to adhere to lifestyle and medical requirements of managing the illness. This significantly increases the demands on refugee women, thereby constituting an extra burden. Targeted interventions to support informal caregivers in situations of forced displacement are critical.

FAQs

What does the paper study about refugee women?

It examines the extra burden of care borne by refugee women who care for their husbands living with non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and/or diabetes, in a protracted refugee situation.

How was the study conducted?

The study used an ethnographic design, including in-depth interviews with 15 refugee women caring for their husbands and key informant interviews with community leaders and staff involved in refugee affairs in Uganda. Data collection followed a community-based participatory approach using peer researchers.

What factors increase the burden of care?

Traditional gender norms that assign caregiving primarily to females, combined with disease-management demands (including strict diet) and displacement-related vulnerabilities, were found to increase workload across physical, economic, social, and psychological dimensions.

What is the main conclusion and recommended direction?

Caring for husbands with NCDs compels women to take on additional roles and responsibilities, increasing overall demands. Targeted interventions to support informal caregivers in forced displacement settings are critical.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Marglet